How ICTs are shaping sustainable and modern farming systems in India

Advances in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are having a profound impact on the agricultural sector. After reaping the benefits of the Green Revolution, we are now poised to witness a new transformation through cutting-edge technologies of ICT, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), robotics, edge computing, big data analytics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), the blockchain, and remote sensors.

ICT provides innovative solutions that boost efficiency, productivity, transparency, quality, profitability, and sustainability in farming practices. The value of the digital agriculture market was estimated to be USD 24.2 billion in 2024, and predicted to reach USD 39.8 billion in 2029, according to MarketsandMarkets.

Developing economies like India are ideal environments for integrating futuristic technologies with scientifically backed research. With over 50% of the population utilizing smartphones, the country has witnessed a 45% increase in active internet users since 2019 while internet penetration in rural areas is as high as 41%, as per a report by World Economic Forum. Strong government support has been the key: the Digital India Programaims to transform the nation to a digitally empowered community with the three major pillars being:

1. Providing digital infrastructure as a utility for every citizen,
2. Offering governance and services on demand, and
3. Empowering citizens digitally.

Digital agriculture requires high levels of connectivity, allowing communication between connected IoT sensors in the soil, on livestock, weather stations, agricultural machinery and drones and cloud data services. Recent initiatives to support and resolve these challenges include the National Telecom M2M Roadmap, National Digital Communication Policy, and Fairness Assessment and Rating of Artificial Intelligence Systems.

To create the enabling regulatory and governance environment required for a digital agricultural ecosystem to flourish, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) of the Government of India initiated the "National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A)" scheme.

CGIAR and National contributions to digitizing agriculture

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research, education and extension in India, has embarked on numerous initiatives ensuring food and nutritional security for improving the livelihood of the farmers. India boasts of over 700 million smartphone users, with a significant portion, 425 million residing in rural areas.

ICAR has established advanced data centers and supercomputing hubs to provide support to agricultural research, extension and education in the country through data computing algorithms and tools, digital repositories, knowledge management portals, and mobile apps to facilitate the transfer of technologies from research laboratories to farmers. ​ Satellite data, AI, geographic information system (GIS), and image processing technologies are being used to forecast cropped areas and agricultural output, or to monitor extreme weather events.

These technologies power apps like Meghdoot, which provides crop- and location-specific advisories to farmers and has been downloaded over 300,000 times, or Pusa Krishi which is used to estimate horticultural crop production and support science-based crop insurance. Kisan Sarathi, a digital agricultural extension platform currently delivers agro-advisory services to around 20 million farmers across India.

ICAR has also worked to integrate these technologies and initiatives. For example, the KISAAN 2.0 app provides a single point to access the more than 300 mobile apps developed by different ICAR institutes. The KRISHI (Agricultural Knowledge Resources and Information System Hub for Innovations) portal provides access to over four million ICAR knowledge products covering topics including technology, data generated through experiments surveys and observational studies, geo-spatial data, publications, learning resources, among others. This initiative won the Gold Icon Award in the Open Data Championship Category by MEITY, Govt. of India in 2020.

ICAR also initiated a network program in the field of precision agriculture - the ICAR- Network Program on Precision Agriculture (NePPA) -initially with 16 ICAR Research Institutes with Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi as Lead. The program is focused on exploring potential applications of recent developments on technologies related to sensors, IoTs, drone and ICTs, and variable rate technologies (VRTs) for precision smart agriculture. The major objectives span its scope bringing precision in monitoring and managing soil fertility, crop health, livestock farming, post-harvest operations, aquaculture and upscaling in farmers' field scale to enhance input use efficiency and optimal production system.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) plays a pivotal role in leveraging ICT to enhance agricultural practices, particularly in rice cultivation. By integrating advanced digital tools and data analytics, IRRI helps farmers to optimize crop yields, manage resources efficiently, and adapt to climate change. Initiatives involving digital platforms for precision farming, mobile apps for real-time weather updates and pest management, along with remote sensing for monitoring crop health exemplify IRRI's commitment to harnessing ICT. IRRI has developed various digital tools including: Rice Crop Manager (RCM), Remote sensing based Information and Insurance for Crops in emerging Economies (RIICE), Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM), the Source-selective and Emission-adjusted GHG CalculaTOR for Cropland (SECTOR), and Rice Doctor. These technologies empower farmers with actionable insights, facilitating informed decision-making and sustainable agricultural practices. Consequently, IRRI's efforts in ICT not only boost productivity but also contribute to food security and rural development.

Over the past decades, ICAR and IRRI have collaborated on numerous initiatives and programs and aim to further expand the development and adoption of key innovations and research. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to advancing digital agriculture, driving sustainable farming practices, and addressing global challenges in food security and environmental resilience. Some of these interventions include:

• Rice-Fallow Management for Eastern India with generation of cropping systems, intensity maps, flood inundation maps, soil moisture suitability maps for major parts of Odisha, Assam, and Jharkhand using satellite imagery.
• Nutrient Management using RCM which included providing hands-on training sessions with NGO's and inclusion of new features such as offline farm advisories.
• Data compilation and analysis along with usability testing through Rice Doctor.

Overcoming the digital divide

Despite the huge push for digital transformation of agri-food systems, harsh realities like the digital divide still persist, especially in the global South. Challenges like inadequate access to technology and infrastructure disproportionately affect women and rural communities. Weak information systems hinder access to vital information resulting in uninformed decisions or missed opportunities. Also, limited digital skills, especially amongst women and youth further exacerbate the issue, hampering economic growth and poverty reduction efforts.

In order to address these issues, the CGIAR's Digital Innovation Initiative has developed the Digital Colab to coordinate research, collaboration, and training to advance digital innovation in agri-food systems. Efforts are underway to develop Digital Twins for timely decision-making, integrating real-time monitoring data into decision-support systems through case studies. Additionally, a Digital Inclusion Framework is being designed, providing metrics on the digital divide in agrifood systems and promoting gender equity in the digital ecosystem.

Weaving together these case studies and agricultural innovations, the annual ICTforAg conference was recently organized in five cities across the globe to bolster a greater role for ICT in agriculture, bringing together agri-food system stakeholders, technology experts, and enthusiasts to share knowledge, find solutions, and form partnerships to address challenges in agrifood systems across low and middle-income countries.

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About the authors:

Dr. Shalini Gakhar, Data Scientist, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

With a background in satellite image processing, hyperspectral remote sensing, and machine learning, she aims to contribute to cutting-edge research and development initiatives. Currently serving as a Data Scientist and has contributed to impactful projects. Previously, held roles at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and Delhi Technological University, where she focused on developing precision farming software algorithms and protocols. Her academics includes a PhD in Information Technology on spectral-spatial strategies for object detection using hyperspectral data. She holds an M.Tech. and a B.Tech. in Information Technology.

Dr. Anil Rai, Assistant Director General (ICT), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

An esteemed professional with a wealth of awards and honors recognizing significant contributions to agricultural sciences and statistics. Awards include the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) Fellow Award, Best Teacher Award of National Agricultural Higher Education, and the Jawahar-Lal Nehru Award for outstanding contributions in Social Sciences. With research interests spanning survey sampling, geo-informatics, spatial models, and statistical analysis, the individual has excelled in developing methodologies for analyzing diverse datasets, including biological and omics data. Their expertise extends to computational solutions, AI/ML/DL, and image analysis techniques, contributing to advancements in agricultural research and policy development.

Dr. Sheetal Sharma, Senior Scientist - Soil Science, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

An expert in enhancing rice-based agri-food systems through improved soil nutrient management and agri-relevant ICT, Sheetal provides strategic leadership in developing, leading, and implementing programs that leverage ICT to amplify, disseminate, and package IRRI's scientific research into accessible knowledge tools for diverse audiences. She identifies innovative technology platforms to transfer knowledge and increase efficiencies in regenerative farming systems, thereby improving soil health and system productivity. With more than 16 years of global experience in developing and scaling sustainable technologies, Dr. Sharma has received several accolades throughout her career, including the 11th Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers for her work on use of ICT for scaling site-specific nutrient management to a large number of farmers.

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