AI Revolutionizing India’s Agriculture Sector: World Economic Forum Report
- ByStartupStory | July 21, 2023
A new report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) highlights the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies in India’s agriculture sector. The WEF is actively involved in a project called ‘Saagu Baagu,’ which aims to provide AI-based agritech services to farmers in Telangana.
The WEF report showcases the successful implementation of the ‘Saagu Baagu’ project’s pilot phase, benefiting over 7,000 chilli farmers. The project offers AI-based advisories, soil testing, produce quality testing, and ecommerce services. In collaboration with the Telangana government under the AI for Agriculture Innovation (AI4AI) initiative, the state plans to scale these agritech services to 20,000 chilli and groundnut farmers in three districts during phase II (from 2023 onwards), eventually reaching 100,000 farmers in the state by phase III (by 2025).
Implemented by Digital Green in consortium with three agritech startups and with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the ‘Saagu Baagu’ project has the potential to empower smallholder farmers and serve as a model for other governments to promote local agritech ecosystems.
The report highlights the significance of embracing sustainable practices and innovative solutions in the agriculture sector, given the growing urgency of the climate crisis and other challenges impacting global food security. AI and other emerging technologies play a pivotal role in addressing productivity and sustainability, making agriculture an attractive domain for tech-savvy and entrepreneurial minds.
The AI4AI initiative, central to the ‘Saagu Baagu’ project, aims to overcome challenges associated with fragmented technological infrastructure, high operational costs, limited access to data, and technical expertise. By focusing on easing agritech service delivery through administrative and policy support and digital public infrastructure, such as the ‘Agriculture Data Exchange’ and ‘Agritech Sandbox,’ the project showcases the transformation of agriculture value chains.
Purushottam Kaushik, Head of the WEF’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in India, emphasized the need for governments to play an enabling role and prioritize value chains to achieve focused, organized, and outcome-oriented efforts.
KT Rama Rao, Minister of ITE&C, Industries and Commerce, and Urban Development of Telangana, expressed excitement about the groundbreaking collaboration with the WEF. Through the utilization of AI, the project aims to empower farmers with data-driven crop advisories and market intelligence, fostering agricultural prosperity within the state.
The WEF’s report underscores the potential of AI in revolutionizing India’s agriculture sector, paving the way for sustainable practices and improved livelihoods for farmers.
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