Cabinet approves Digital Agriculture Mission
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Agriculture
Source: IE
Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the Rs 2,817-crore Digital Agriculture Mission aimed at creating Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the farm sector.
What is Digital Agriculture?
Digital Agriculture refers to the use of digital technologies to collect, store, analyze, and share data throughout the agricultural sector. It includes tools like sensors, drones, GPS, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence to enhance farm management, improve crop monitoring, optimize inputs like water and fertilizers, and increase yields.
What is Digital Agriculture Mission?
The Digital Agriculture Mission is a government initiative aimed at developing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the agriculture sector. It seeks to improve farm management, enhance productivity, and provide services to farmers by integrating data and digital tools. The mission focuses on modernizing Indian agriculture through the use of digital technologies like data analytics, geospatial information, and AI to support decision-making, crop estimation, and efficient resource management.
Components of Digital Agriculture Mission
Component | Description | Progress/Fact
AgriStack | Digital infrastructure for farmer databases, village maps, and crop registries. | Pilots conducted in 6 districts; Target: 11 crore farmers to receive digital IDs.
Krishi Decision Support System (DSS) | Geospatial system to unify crop, soil, weather, and water data. | Launched; Supports crop pattern identification and drought/flood monitoring.
Soil Profile Maps | Detailed soil maps (1:10,000 scale) of agricultural lands. | 29 million hectares of soil mapped; Target: 142 million hectares.
Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) | Improves crop yield estimates and data accuracy for production. | Nation-wide rollout planned; Pilots conducted in 11 states in FY2023-24.
Issues with Agri-Tech in India:
• Limited Digital Literacy: Many farmers lack the skills and access needed to adopt agri-tech.
• High Upfront Costs: Significant initial investment required for agri-tech solutions is a barrier for small-scale farmers.
• Fragmented Land Holdings: Small, fragmented land makes large-scale mechanization challenging.
• Limited Infrastructure: Poor access to basic infrastructure like electricity and internet hinders agri-tech adoption.
• Inadequate Government Policies: Inconsistent or poorly implemented policies affect the effectiveness of agri-tech initiatives.
• Lack of Collaboration: Limited cooperation among farmers, the private sector, and the government restricts effective solution development.
• Limited Market Access: Challenges in accessing markets and market information affect the adoption of agri-tech.
• Drone Regulation Issues: Privacy concerns arise due to sophisticated sensors and cameras on drones.
Other related Government Initiatives:
Initiative | Explanation
Promotion to Startups | Currently, India has over 1,000 agri-tech startups that play a crucial role in providing innovative solutions for challenges across the agricultural value chain.
Digital Agriculture Mission | A government initiative for projects based on technologies like AI, blockchain, remote sensing, drones, and robots to advance agriculture.
Unified Farmer Service Platform (UFSP) | A platform facilitating seamless interoperability of IT systems in the agriculture ecosystem, enhancing service delivery to farmers.
National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA) | A scheme using ICT for timely access to agriculture-related information, including platforms like Farmers Portal and mkisan for advisories.
Strengthening/Promoting Agricultural Information System (AGRISNET) | A scheme for strengthening the IT infrastructure of the Department and enhancing information dissemination through platforms like mkisan.
Way Forward:
To address the issues faced by agri-tech in India, several steps should be taken. Encouraging the adoption of modern technology is crucial; providing subsidies and incentives for advanced farming equipment and techniques can make these solutions more accessible to farmers. Farmer-centric research should be prioritized, focusing on the specific needs of farmers and involving them in the development of relevant technologies. Improving access to technology by creating affordable and accessible solutions will help boost productivity, particularly for small-scale farmers. Additionally, promoting education and training programs will facilitate the adoption of new technologies and support knowledge transfer. Finally, clear regulations for drones must be established and privacy laws enforced to ensure their safe and effective use in agriculture.
Insta Links:
• e-Technology in the aid of farmers
Mains Links:
Examine the role of supermarkets in the supply chain management of fruits, vegetables, and food items. How do they eliminate number of intermediaries? (UPSC 2018)