Agri apps are helping farmers getting right information

It has been observed that increased access to information through smartphones has positively affected the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies among Indian farmers.

- Jagriti Kumari

Thanks to enhanced focus of the government, agriculture sector in India is moving on the path of modernisation. To help farmers increase their income, government intends to modernise the Agriculture sector by infusing new technologies. A five-year (2021-2025) digital agriculture mission has also been initiated by government for projects based on new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), block chain, remote sensing and GIS technology, use of drones and robots etc.

Digital agriculture

Digital agriculture, says Narendra Singh Rathore, vice-chancellor, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT), Udaipur, is a step forward for use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for increasing production, productivity and profitability at farmers end based on continuous monitoring and forecasting of crop in field conditions.

Ram Narayan Ghatak, chief executive officer (CEO), Indigram Labs Foundation defines the digital agriculture as use of technology with all its equipment, devices and information networks in managing agriculture and food production and supply systems.

Such equipment and devices are often integrated with cutting-edge technology applications like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) and block chain technologies to automate operations, perform repetitive tasks with precision, track movement of food items, food quality management, promote precision agriculture, enhance farm and animal productivity and many more.