New Delhi: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is undertaking various initiatives to build Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture. This move comes in response to the recent budget announcement for 2023-24, which allocated Rs 1,25,036 crore to the agriculture sector, with a provision of Rs 450 crore for the Digital Agriculture Mission, and Rs 600 crore for technology for the promotion of agriculture.
These initiatives aim to provide farmers nationwide with access to technology and information through open source, open standard, and interoperable public goods, addressing farmer-centric solutions through digital means.
In a recent statement to the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Arjun Munda, highlighted the Government of India’s efforts to promote the adoption of modern and smart farming technologies into the agricultural sector.
Under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation, the government encourages the use of modern machinery, including kisan drones, to enhance farming practices.
The National e-Governance Plan for Agriculture (NeGPA) provides funding to state governments for Digital Agriculture Projects that leverage emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), and Blockchain.
The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-RAFTAAR) introduced the “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” component in 2018-19. This initiative aims to foster innovation and agri-entrepreneurship by offering financial support to startups utilising innovative technologies to address challenges in the agriculture and allied sectors.
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) focuses on improving water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation, specifically Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems. This not only conserves water but also reduces fertiliser usage, labor expenses, and overall input costs, leading to increased income for farmers.
The Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) scheme, implemented by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, supports farmers in adopting innovative farming techniques developed by the National Agricultural Research Systems. KVKs conduct on-farm testing, frontline demonstrations, and capacity development activities to promote the adoption of improved agricultural technologies among farmers.
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