The World Economic Forum’s Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture Innovation (AI4AI) initiative is aiming to transform India’s agriculture sector through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. Led by the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India (C4IR India) and the Platform for Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, the initiative brings together government, academia, and business representatives to collaborate on the development and implementation of innovative solutions in the agriculture sector.
The Saagu Baagu pilot project, launched in partnership with the Government of Telangana, is the first state-level implementation of a framework for scaling up emerging technologies to improve productivity, efficiency, and sustainability in the agriculture sector. As of January 2023, more than 7,000 chili farmers have enrolled in the pilot project, receiving support in the form of various AI technologies, including sowing quality testing, soil testing, crop health monitoring, window prediction, and tillage estimation. They are also able to access new customers and suppliers in different geographies.
India faces the challenge of feeding a growing population while addressing risks such as climate change, pandemics, and supply chain disruptions. To address these challenges, the agricultural sector needs to become more agile and efficient. Currently, more than 1,000 agri-tech startups in India offer tech-based solutions, but fragmented technological infrastructure, high cost of operations, lack of access to data, and limited technical expertise hamper the scale of these technologies.
The AI4AI framework for public-private partnership was developed in 2021 by C4IR India, through consultations with the Government of India and the state government of Telangana, and supported by the Forum’s Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Platform. The framework lies at the heart of the Saagu Baagu pilot project, which focuses on chili producers and relevant value chains in Telangana. Other tools being developed to further strengthen the digital agriculture ecosystem include an agriculture “sandbox” for safe testing and evaluation of AI technologies, a data exchange, and a new data management policy.
The Saagu Baagu project has enabled collaboration and a converged approach to introduce the Fourth Industrial Revolution to Indian farmers. AI-based chatbots developed by Digital Green and ColoredCow provide farmers with customized notifications and short videos in real-time to help them plan and manage their crops more efficiently. AI-based food quality assessment technology developed by Agnext simplifies the process of on-spot quality standardization, fostering economic, social, and ecological profits.
All information and insights from the pilot project are being leveraged to further elaborate the framework and expand its implementation to other Indian states and globally through the C4IR Network. C4IR India is sharing its learnings with other centers in Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Colombia. Organizations and governments are invited to collaborate with C4IR to make a positive impact on agriculture globally.
In summary, the AI4AI initiative in India aims to transform the agriculture sector through the use of AI and other emerging technologies. The Saagu Baagu pilot project, in partnership with the Government of Telangana, is the first state-level implementation of the framework for scaling up emerging technologies. The project supports chili farmers through various AI technologies and access to new customers and suppliers. The initiative faces challenges such as fragmented technological infrastructure, high cost of operations, lack of access to data, and limited technical expertise. The AI4AI framework for public-private partnership and other tools being developed aim to strengthen the digital agriculture ecosystem. The Saagu Baagu project has enabled collaboration and created a converged approach to introduce the Fourth Industrial Revolution to Indian farmers.
Source: World Economic Forum
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