National Farmers Society, IndiaAI, Wadhwani MoU for AI in Agriculture

The agricultural sector in India is undergoing a major transformation with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is a branch of computer science that enables machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and decision-making. AI has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of agriculture, such as crop monitoring, yield prediction, pest control, resource optimization, and farmer advisory.

To harness the power of AI for enhancing the productivity and sustainability of Indian agriculture, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on January 17, 2024, between the National Farmers Society, IndiaAI under Digital India Corporation, and Wadhwani Foundation. This MOU aims to foster innovation and knowledge for a more prosperous and food-secure future.

The National Farmers Society is a government body that implements various schemes and programmes for the welfare of farmers across the country. IndiaAI is an initiative of the Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology that promotes the development and adoption of AI in various sectors. Wadhwani Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports entrepreneurship, innovation, and skilling initiatives in India and other emerging economies.

The collaboration between these three entities will focus on the following objectives:

• Developing and deploying AI-driven solutions for various agricultural challenges, such as crop monitoring, yield prediction, pest control, resource optimization, and farmer advisory.
• Creating a platform for sharing best practices, data, and insights on AI in agriculture among various stakeholders, such as farmers, researchers, policymakers, and industry players.
• Building capacity and awareness among farmers and other stakeholders on the benefits and use cases of AI in agriculture.
• Evaluating the impact and outcomes of AI-driven interventions on the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of agriculture.

The MOU will leverage the expertise and resources of each partner to achieve these objectives. The National Farmers Society will provide domain knowledge, data access, and farmer outreach. IndiaAI will provide technical support, infrastructure, and ecosystem development. Wadhwani Foundation will provide strategic guidance, project management, and impact assessment.

One of the key features of this collaboration is the integration of Kisan e-Mitra, an AI-powered chatbot that provides digital assistance to farmers. Kisan e-Mitra is designed to address the queries of farmers in their own languages, thereby removing the existing technological and language barriers. Kisan e-Mitra is initially available in five languages: English, Hindi, Odiya, Tamil and Bangla. The chatbot can provide information on various aspects of agriculture such as crop selection, input usage, pest management, market access etc. Kisan e-Mitra can also help farmers to register for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme which provides financial support to land-holding farmers [1].

Another key feature of this collaboration is the implementation of National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) which uses AI/ML technologies for pest forecasting. NPSS is an initiative of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Government of India which aims to provide instantaneous solutions to the farming community to overcome the destruction caused by pest attacks. NPSS uses satellite imagery, drones, sensors etc. to monitor pest populations and their dynamics across crops and regions. NPSS also provides timely advisories to farmers on pest management practices based on pest thresholds.

The MOU is expected to have a positive impact on the agricultural sector in India by:

• Improving crop yields and quality by using AI to monitor soil health, crop growth, weather patterns, and pest infestation. According to a report by NASSCOM, AI can increase crop yields by up to 30% by providing real-time advisories to farmers based on satellite imagery and sensor data .
• Reducing input costs and wastage by using AI to optimize resource allocation, irrigation scheduling, fertilizer application, and post-harvest management. According to a study by Mordor Intelligence, AI can reduce water consumption by up to 25% by using smart irrigation systems that adjust water flow according to soil moisture levels .
• Increasing farmer income and livelihood by using AI to provide timely and personalized advisory services, market linkages, and financial inclusion. According to a case study by Bhajan Global Impact Foundation, AI can increase farmer income by up to 50% by providing customized recommendations on crop selection, input usage, pest management, and market access .
• Enhancing environmental sustainability by using AI to promote climate-smart agriculture practices, such as precision farming, conservation agriculture, and agroforestry. According to a report by World Economic Forum (WEF), AI can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% by enabling low-carbon farming methods that sequester carbon in the soil .

The MOU is a significant step towards making India a global leader in AI-driven digital agriculture. It will not only benefit Indian farmers but also contribute to the global goals of food security, poverty alleviation, and climate action.