Al push: Farmers reap better quality & yield

It is forecasting demand for crops and finding markets for farmers. But challenges remain, report ASHUTOSH MISHRA & ARYAMAN GUPTA

-  ASHUTOSH MISHRA & ARYAMAN GUPTA

F |armers must produce 70 per cent more food to feed the predicted 2050 global population of 9.1 billion, a recent World Economic Forum report has said.

India's share in it will be around 1.6 billion by then. Clearly, food production will have to keep pace with the rising numbers.

And with climate change impacting agriculture, technology - especially artificial intelligence-will play a crucial role going ahead. A new and promising crop of agritech startups is bringing technological advancements in the sector. India has now over 3,600 such startups in the agritech space.

An agritech startup is generally referred to a firm that leverages technology to innovate agricultural practices, enhancing productivity, sustainability, and efficiency in farming.

Demand forecast

Delhi-based Poshn, for instance, is using AI to bolster operations.

"We use AI to forecast demand for various crops and commodities, and suppliers can plan effectively. Our smart logistics solutions optimise delivery routes and track locations efficiently, our systems enhance inventory management in warehouses and cold storage, significantly reducing waste," said Shashank Singh, CEO and cofounder, Poshn.

The firm offers a tri-party commerce platform where wholesale buyers can purchase from millers and stockists.

Mumbai-based farm-to-fork fruits and vegetable company Pluckk is investing heavily in artificial intelligence-driven solutions for sorting and grading of food products.