Context

• The agriculture and allied sector play a critical role in rural livelihood, employment and national food security. Around 55-60 percent of its rural households depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. 
• According to the Economic Survey (2021-22), the agriculture sector which is the largest employer of workforce, accounted for a sizable 18.8 percent (2021-22) in Gross Value Added (GVA) of the country registering a growth of 3.6 percent in 2020-21 and 3.9 per cent in 2021-22. 
• The survey stated that the growth in allied sectors including livestock, dairying and fisheries has been the major drivers of overall growth in the sector.

Digital Technologies in Agriculture

• Digital technologies are finding increasing use in the agricultural value system because the government has taken various initiatives to give a push to digital agriculture in the country.
• India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA) framework: 
  • It would lay down the architecture for the federated farmers’ database and would serve as a foundation to build innovative agri-focused solutions leveraging emerging technologies to contribute effectively in creating a better Ecosystem for Agriculture in India. 
• Funds under NeGP-A:
  • Under the National e-Governance plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A), the funds are released to the States and Union Territories for projects involving use of modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, Drones, Data Analytics, Block Chain etc.
• Sub mission on Agricultural Mechanisation:
  • It aims at ‘reaching the unreached’ by bringing to the small and marginal farmers in the core and giving the benefits of farm mechanization, by promoting Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs), creating hubs for hi-tech and high value farm-equipments, distribution of various agricultural equipments, creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration and capacity building activities, and ensuring performance- testing and certification at designated testing centers located all over the country.
• e-NAM Online Marketplace:
  • The National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal which networks the existing Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities. 
    • Digital services through various modules of e-NAM platform such as Farmers Producers Organisation trading module, warehouse-based trading module.
    • Platform of Platforms (POP) under e-NAM intended to promote trade and marketing of agricultural produce wherein farmers will be facilitated to sell the produce outside their state borders. 
    • GPS based e-NAM Mandi Locator: Farmers / Sellers can locate their nearby e-NAM mandi using GPS based mandi locator feature through e-NAM mobile app. 
• PM KISAN Digital Payment:
  • Under the scheme Rs. 6000, annually in three installments is directly transferred into the bank accounts of the eligible farmers under Direct Benefit Transfer mode. 
  • The PM-KISAN mobile app was launched to broaden the reach of the scheme where farmers can view the status of their application, update or carry out corrections of name based on their Aadhaar card and also check the history of credits to their bank accounts.
• AGMARKNET portal:
  • AGMARKNET portal is a G2C e-governance portal that caters to the needs of various stakeholders by providing agricultural marketing related information (daily arrivals and prices of commodities) from a single window. 
• National Mission on Horticulture:
  • It promotes holistic development of the horticulture sector (including bamboo and coconut). 
  • HORTNET project is a web enabled work flow-based system for providing financial assistance under the mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
• National Project on Soil Health and Fertility:
  • Integrated Nutrient Management has been promoted through implementation of Soil Health Cards scheme since 2015.
  • Soil health card provides nutrient status of the soil along with prescription about balanced and integrated use of inorganic and organic fertilizers to maintain good soil health.
  • Soil Health Card Portal is available where farmers can track soil samples.
• Kisan Suvidha App:
  • Kisan Suvidha mobile application facilitates dissemination of information to farmers covering range of issues – weather forecast, extreme weather alert, market price of commodities, information about dealers of fertilizer, seeds, pesticide, seeds etc, plant protection for 12 major crops, agro advisories, soil health card, soil testing labs, cold stores and godowns, veterinary laboratories and diagnostic centers, crop insurance and government schemes. 
  • Besides, Pusa Krishi mobile app disseminates information about the latest technologies developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. 
• Usage of Drones in Agriculture:
  • To make drone technology affordable and available to the farmers- financial assistance of 100 percent cost of drone (upto Rs. 10 lakhs per drone) is provided under sub-mission on Agricultural Mechanisation to the Institutions engaged in agricultural activities for its demonstration on the farmer’s fields.
  • FPOs are provided grants of 75 percent for purchase of drones for its demonstration on the farmers’ fields. 
• Thrust on Genetic Improvement:
  • The research by ICAR focuses on genetic enhancement of crops, livestock, fish for high yield, quality and climate resilience, conservation of resources and, development of intelligent information technology (IT) enabled platform for technology transfer among farmers and stakeholders. 

Conclusion

• Digital technologies play a vital transformational role in modernizing and organizing how rural India performs its agricultural activities as reported by the Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income in 2018.
• The governments’ thrust has been to help farmers accessing the latest farm technologies to ensure that farmers’ income get a boost and sustained in coming years besides ensuring that India remains self- reliant in production of most of the agricultural commodities.

reference:

https://www.ibef.org/blogs/digital-agriculture-the-future-of-indian-agriculture