Shomita Biswas, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare addressing at International Summit ‘Artificial Intelligence & Digital Applications in Agriculture’, organized by FICCI
Shomita Biswas, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India said that as the technology advances in India, we will soon have sensor-based use of drone application for which we all stakeholders have to jointly collaborate. “The eco-system is now in place, and it is up to the industry and Start-ups to leverage this eco-system,” she added.
Biswas said, “Once the sensor-based applications of drones start then we might not require huge data generation. Currently, we don’t have sensor based targeted approach of application of pesticides on nutrients through drones.”
Biswas further stated that in terms of mechanization, India is 40 percent mechanized country, but we now need some parameters by which we can also assess our technological progress as well including use of drones, AI, IoT, etc.
She also urged various universities and institutes working on judicious use of pesticides through drones to share the data and research findings with all stakeholders. We are saving up to 30 percent of the pesticides and it will come down further when we adopt targeted approach as part of the sustainable agriculture, she added.
Highlighting the importance of Start-ups, Biswas stated that the Start-ups should work on solutions at lower cost for the farmers along with providing good after sales service. “I urge the Start-ups to come forward and provide these services. The government agencies should also involve Start-ups to find solutions for certain services,” she noted.
Dr V Praveen Rao, Vice Chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University (PJTSAU) said, “Due to labour scarcity, we are now seeding rice directly through drones. We are introducing high intensity planting of cotton in the state, and we want to use drones for this as well”.
Dr SK Malhotra, Former Agriculture Commissioner, Chairman, CIB&RC and Prjoject Director, DKMA said that we are now focusing on smart farming.
T R Kesavan, Chairman, FICCI National Agriculture Committee & Group President, TAFE Ltd said that drone is going to change the way the Indian agriculture will work and technology in agriculture will make it easy for everyone to access.
Dr JP Singh, Additional Plant Protection Adviser & Secretary, CIB&RC and Hemendra Mathur, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Agri Start-ups & Venture Partner, Bharat Innovation Fund also shared their perspective.
