MUMBAI, 12 July 2025: Agriculture in India is undergoing a profound shift. What was once a hands-on, intuition-based profession is now increasingly shaped by algorithms, sensors, and aerial drones. This digital disruption—led by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and smart automation—is redefining how crops are grown, monitored, and harvested.
For students of agriculture and horticulture, this transformation is not just theoretical. It is reshaping their future workplaces, classrooms, and communities.
From Traditional to Data-Driven
Traditionally, decisions on irrigation, fertilisation, and pest control relied on experience and observation. But changing climate patterns and resource constraints have exposed the limits of that approach.
Smart farming offers a data-backed alternative. AI can now predict crop yields, detect diseases, and optimise planting schedules by analysing data from weather forecasts, satellite imagery, and soil health. IoT sensors track real-time field conditions—moisture, sunlight, and temperature—while drones provide aerial insights across large farms.
Together, these tools support precision agriculture—applying just the right amount of water, fertiliser, or pesticide only where needed, significantly improving efficiency and sustainability.
A Boon for Horticulture
In horticulture, where crops like fruits and vegetables require delicate and continuous care, smart farming is proving especially valuable.
Using drones and IoT devices, farmers can detect fruit rot or nutrient deficiencies early. Smart irrigation systems reduce water use while improving yield quality. AI even helps post-harvest—predicting shelf life and recommending storage conditions to reduce waste.
Obstacles to Widespread Adoption
However, access to these technologies remains uneven. For many small and marginal farmers, cost, internet access, and digital literacy are significant barriers. There are also growing concerns around data ownership and privacy, especially when sensitive farm data is collected by private companies.
Moreover, many AI tools still operate as “black boxes”—providing outputs without clear explanations—making it difficult for farmers to fully trust or understand their recommendations.
To overcome this, experts call for stronger public investment in training, infrastructure, and transparent AI systems.
Startups and State Support
India’s growing ecosystem of AgriTech startups is already helping bridge this gap. Firms like CropIn, Fasal, and DeHaat are developing low-cost, user-friendly apps that deliver crop insights, pest alerts, and real-time market prices.
Complementing this effort are government initiatives like the Digital Agriculture Mission and the National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A), which aim to digitise extension services and promote innovation across the agriculture value chain.
Rethinking Education in Agriculture
Agricultural colleges and universities are now being urged to modernise their curricula. Beyond traditional subjects, students must be equipped to operate drones, analyse field data, and even launch agri-tech startups.
Researchers, too, must engage directly with field trials of new tools—providing feedback that can shape policy and product development for wider and equitable adoption.
Tradition Meets Technology
AI and smart technologies are not meant to replace farmers—they exist to empower them. By reducing manual labour, improving resource efficiency, and enabling real-time responses to environmental changes, digital tools can help secure both food production and farmer incomes.
With the right support, smart farming can be inclusive—bridging the gap between tradition and technology, empowering the next generation of agripreneurs, and redefining agriculture as a forward-looking, sustainable, and climate-resilient sector.
