Jammu Tawi, Feb 17: Jammu Kashmir Adm has approved an ambitious Rs 30.40 crore project “Sensor based Smart Agriculture” envisaging integration of agriculture with technology driven by Artificial Insemination and IoT for automation of practices, enhanced resource use efficiency and profitability.
This project, which is aimed at to establish a ‘sensor-based smart agriculture ecosystem' would prove to be a game changer for agri-economy of the region. The integration of agriculture with technology driven by AI and IoT will make agriculture alluring, professional and competitive.
The project would enable use of Hi-tech poly houses for cultivation of cash crops around the year with the application of IoT and automation for monitoring microclimatic parameters of plants. The green house technology will result in increased yields and make possible off season availability of vegetables as early production or late availability as compared to open field conditions.
Agriculture, which contributes over 17 per cent to India's GDP, employs over 54 per cent of the country's population. In Jammu and Kashmir, over 70 per cent of the economy is based on agriculture, making it an important area for improving livelihoods through adoption of digital agriculture for increasing input use efficiency, production, productivity, and profitability.
This project of sensor-based smart agriculture can be a transformative innovation for Jammu Kashmir's agri-economy. The objective is to increase the use of resources and improve efficiency by up to 80 per cent and automate agricultural operations with precision in HDPs of Apple, vegetables, and livestock. The use of AI-based detection of pests and diseases using handheld sensor devices can significantly reduce the drudgery and cost of cultivation by 20 per cent.
Certificate and diploma courses in AI and ML, IoT, automation and Block chain technology will be launched to train skilled manpower for the new skill sets required in the industry.
“The outcome of the project will be 50-80 per cent increase in resource use efficiency, the development of a sensor-based grading and sorting system of apple and development of a decision support system (DSS) for pest and disease management. The real-time detection and variable rate spray using robotics and drones will reduce the production cost by 80 per cent. The proposal also aims to build a sensor corridor for livestock and phenotyping and yield prediction,” said Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department.
The project is one among the 29 projects, which were approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration after being recommended by the UT Level Apex Committee for holistic development of Agriculture and allied sectors in UT of J&K.
The investment in Agri-Tech reached $4.6 billion in 2015, with recent studies showing that the sector's growth is inevitable. However, there are still challenges that need to be addressed to ensure that digital transformation can make a significant impact in agriculture.
The development of smart villages can act as a catalyst for the overall development of the agricultural sector. By providing farmers with access to the latest technologies and digital infrastructure, they can optimize their production and increase their yields and profitability.
The implementation of government schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Kisan Credit Card scheme can provide financial assistance to farmers for the purchase of equipment and technologies.
