Digital Solutions For Agriculture | Smart Farm Solutions

Introduction

Agriculture is more than just an industry in India; it is the nation's backbone, employing more than half of the population - accounting for almost 20% of the total GDP of India. This essential industry, however, faces a number of challenges, ranging from unpredictable weather patterns to limited resource availability. In recent years, digital platforms have emerged as important partners for Indian farmers, bringing innovative solutions that harness data for more efficient and sustainable agriculture. When there is so much riding on farming, investing in digital solutions for agriculture is the best thing to do.

In this blog, we will look at some of the exciting existing digital solutions, future plans, and the tremendous influence of technology on Indian agriculture's development. Read on!

The Current Digital Tools in Indian Agriculture

Digital platforms have steered a revolution in Indian agriculture by providing farmers with instantaneous access to information, market prices, weather forecasts, and essential resources. Here are some prominent digital initiatives transforming the landscape:

eNAM (National Agriculture Market): eNAM is an online trading network launched by the Government of India that connects agricultural produce marketplaces across states. Farmers can easily access market pricing, find customers, and sell their goods, minimizing intermediaries and assuring higher crop prices.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): KVKs employ digital tools to promote agricultural information and practices to rural farmers. Farmers may obtain crop management, pest control, weather forecasts, and new technical breakthroughs through mobile applications and websites.
Weather Forecasting Apps: Apps like Skymet, IMD, Meghdoot, Mausam, etc. provide accurate weather forecasts to farmers, and even the non-farming community, helping them make informed decisions regarding sowing, irrigation, and harvesting of their crops.
Digital Financial Services: Farmers may get payments for their product straight into their bank accounts using digital payment systems and mobile banking services, decreasing the risk of theft and assuring fast transactions.
Crop Insurance: Digital platforms have streamlined the crop insurance process. Government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Weather-based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) use technology to assess crop damage and disburse insurance claims promptly.
Soil Health Cards: The government intends to give soil health cards to all farmers, which will contain information on the soil's nutrient level. This information assists farmers in making educated decisions about fertilizer and soil management.
FarmERP (Farm Enterprise Resource Planning): FarmERP is an integrated farm management software that employs data analytics to enhance agricultural operations. It includes capabilities such as crop planning, resource management, and traceability.

Future of Indian Agriculture - Digital Transformation

The Indian government continues to invest in and promote digital solutions for agriculture. Several proposed schemes and technological advancements are on the horizon:

Village Level Soil Testing Labs - often known as VLSTLs, these are specialist facilities that examine soil samples. These laboratories give farmers crucial information on their soil's nutrient content, pH levels, and composition. The guidelines for the same were launched very recently, in June 2023.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are being used to anticipate disease outbreaks, monitor soil conditions, and maximize crop yields. CropIn, AgroStar and Intello Labs are leading the charge in this space.
Drones and satellite photos are being used to monitor crop health, analyze soil conditions, and detect insect infestations. Precision farming and resource allocation are aided by this technology.
Blockchain technology is being considered as a means of improving transparency in the agricultural supply chain. It can assist in tracing products from farm to table, ensuring fine quality and authenticity.

Why Is Technology in Agriculture a Big Deal?

The use of digital tools in Indian agriculture represents a wave of change toward a more efficient, sustainable, and egalitarian agricultural economy. It's more than a major deal; it's a game changer with the potential to help millions of farmers, strengthen food security, and safeguard the environment.

Agriculture benefits from scientific accuracy and data, thanks to digital instruments. Farmers may now make informed decisions by analyzing data on soil quality, weather patterns, and crop health.
Farmers have generally faced problems in reaching markets and getting fair pricing for their produce due to middlemen. Digital networks such as eNAM connect farmers directly with buyers, assuring judicious pricing.
Farmers can respond to unpredictable climate changes with the help of weather forecasting apps and their analytics. They may plan more effectively by selecting crop types that are more adaptable to changing circumstances, resulting in lower crop losses and higher resilience.
Digital payment systems and crop insurance plans ensured that farmers no longer have to carry big sums of cash, reducing the danger of theft. Also, if crops fail due to unexpected events, fast insurance payouts provide farmers with a safety net.
Precision farming, driven by data, cuts resource usage and limits agriculture's environmental impact. This fosters long-term sustainability and minimizes farming's carbon footprint.

Role of NGOs in Integrating Technology with Agriculture

At Give Discover, we strongly believe that NGOs are like helpful friends for farmers, whether it is their economic development or social upliftment. They make sure farmers know how to use technology for their betterment and have what they need to make their farms, homes, and communities better. Here is how NGOs help in promoting digital farming technology among today's farmers -

NGOs educate farmers about digital tools and how to use them. They make technology simple to understand. They encourage the development of new tech tools that specifically meet the needs of small-scale farmers.
NGOs help farmers get access to digital devices like smartphones and computers. There are some NGOs that even work towards providing them for free or at low cost.
They offer robust training sessions to teach farmers how to use apps and websites for farming tasks. If farmers face issues with technology, NGOs are there to help and provide technical support.
NGOs connect farmers to important information like weather forecasts, crop prices, and best farming practices through digital platforms. They create networks of farmers who share knowledge and experiences using digital platforms.
NGOs work with governments and companies to make sure that farmers have access to the right technology and that it benefits them. They measure the impact of technology on farming and share this data with farmers and policymakers.

NGOs Leading the Way Towards Smart Digital Farming

Here are some NGOs from the bouquet of many such organizations at Give Discover, which play crucial roles in advancing agriculture in India by providing education, technology, and support to farmers, ultimately contributing to rural development and improved livelihoods.

Krushi Vikas Va Gramin Prashikshan Sanstha: This NGO from Maharashtra has quite a number of accolades for its kitty. This organization supports rural farmers, fostering economic growth through agricultural and cultural initiatives. Through their many innovative interventions such as Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), digital literacy programs, capacity building workshops, skill development, etc., they have enabled many farmers to live a life of dignity.
Under the Mango Tree (UTMT): Mumbai-based UTMT focuses on beekeeping and pollination services for farmers. They strive to address farmers' declining productivity by increasing production and augmenting their income. They facilitate small farmers with beekeeping equipment and training, as well as market access for their output, and provide them with a premium brand name for local single-origin honey.
Simple Farm Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (Kamal Kisan): Kamal Kisan by Bengaluru specializes in providing simple, technology-driven solutions to farmers, helping them improve agricultural practices and increase productivity. Their goal is to assist small farmers in India in overcoming labor scarcity and achieving profitability in an activity that is progressively becoming unprofitable owing to labor shortages and a lack of automated farming.
NubeSol Technologies: NubeSol Technologies, situated in Bengaluru, leverages data and technology to offer soil health solutions for farmers, ensuring soil fertility and sustainable agriculture, particularly in sugarcane farming. Technology like remote sensors are utilized for soil analysis, thorough crop care, and monitoring, land mapping, water level thresholds, etc. Farmers are assisted through digital platforms such as mobile apps and hotlines.
I Support Farming: Chennai-based I Support Farming (ISF) offers operating financing to farmers for agricultural operations. Seeds, fertilizers, and other things are used to provide working capital. Farmers are also made aware of effective farming procedures by technical specialists, who advise them on the sort of crop to plant and the practices to use.