(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Agriculture 4.0 Towards Agri-Tech Revolution

(AUGUST-2025)

Agriculture 4.0 Towards Agri-Tech Revolution

Context:

Over the years, digital agriculture in India has evolved from basic information and communication tools to more advanced and integrated systems. Today, the focus is on real-time monitoring, data-driven planning, modern technologies, and strong decision- support systems.

Idea of Digital Agriculture

The scope of the idea of digital agriculture, which we envisage to bring the next Agri-Tech Revolution, can be broadly understood through two complementary paradigms:

1) Smart Farm Digitisation

2) SmartAgriSphere Digitisation

The first one, i.e., SmartFarm Digitisation refers to the direct deployment of digital technologies at the farm level, enabling farmers to make data-driven decisions and manage their fields with precision.
This includes tools such as IoT-based soil and crop sensors, drones for imaging and spraying, automated irrigation systems, and mobile- based farm management platforms. These technologies help transform traditional farms into tech-integrated, responsive production units, enhancing productivity resource-use efficiency, and climate resilience.
This includes satellite- based remote sensing for crop monitoring, weather forecasting systems, blockchain-enabled supply chains, digital platforms for market access, credit, insurance, and subsidies. These interventions operate at a systemic level, enhancing governance, improving transparency, and enabling precision services across the value chain.
They represent the digitisation around the farm, creating an intelligent, interconnected agricultural ecosystem that benefits farmers indirectly but significantly.
Together, these two layers of digitisation, i.e., SmartFarm at the ground level and SmartAgriSphere at the systemic level, form the foundation of a modern, resilient, and technology-enabled agricultural sector.
While the former empowers individual farmers, the latter strengthens the broader institutional and infrastructural framework in which agriculture operates. Both are essential for realising the vision of a digitally transformed Indian agriculture. While there is no water-tight separation between the two levels of digitisation, they complement each other in their objectives.

Smart Farm Digitisation

SmartFarm Digitisation includes a wide range of technologies that support precision farming, such as artificial intelligence, drones, remote sensing, blockchain, and control systems. These tools help farmers adopt climate-smart practices at their farms and promote sustainable agriculture. The embedding of digital technologies on farm level, for example, drone adoption in Indian agriculture, remains relatively low as compared to countries like Japan and South Korea, where adoption rates exceed 60%. Whereas, in China, the usage of drones in agriculture is widespread, more than United States. Apart from this, China has developed and implemented various IoT-based systems for monitoring and controlling crop diseases and insect pests, particularly in rice and orchard settings. In India, about 30-35% of crops are damaged due to pest infestation of crops.
Further, climate change is projected to significantly increase pest attacks in agriculture, with each degree Celsius rise in temperature potentially leading to a 10-25% increase in yield losses due to insect pests, which is alarming. Another significant concern is the overuse of water for irrigation in Indian agriculture.
Data indicates that irrigation, particularly from groundwater, is extensive, with 70-80% of farmers relying on it. Inefficient irrigation practices have led to various problems like water-logging, salinity, and declining water tables.
Approximately 17% of groundwater blocks in India are classified as overexploited, with 5% being critically depleted, according to the Central Groundwater Board. Another 14% are categorised as semi-critical, meaning they are experiencing significant depletion. The use of sensors in agriculture, particularly for precision irrigation, can significantly reduce water requirements in India, potentially by up to 50%.
Similarly, IoT- based sensors can collect data on various macro and micronutrients in the soil. Optical sensors can be used to apply the liquid, granular or gaseous fertilisers in the field, which automatically dispense fertilisers in optimum quantities, saving from overuse of fertilisers.
Weed mapping can be done with the help of drone and image processing technologies. If this is further equipped with GPS, it can create a weed map, after which automatic spraying of weedicides can be done based on precision requirements. A smartphone can be the easiest and one-stop tool to conduct, control, and monitor these operations. Smartphone, a device in the day-to-day life of most of us, is equipped with so many sensors that can be utilised in the most versatile possible ways.

Smart Agri Sphere Digitisation

This refers to building a supportive ecosystem of backward and forward linkages for the agri-value chain, which is going to indirectly and ultimately benefit the farmer. For example, blockchain technology can make supply chains more transparent by ensuring traceability from farm to fork.
Q.R code-based systems help confirm the quality and origin of products, increasing trust and boosting the export potential of agri, dairy, and livestock goods. Direct linkages between farmers and buyers through online platforms and digital marketplaces can help farmers get better prices and reduce their dependence on middlemen.
Artificial intelligence platforms can deliver hyperlocal, crop- specific advisories on weather changes, pest risks, and good farming practices. These advisory services can play a big role in helping farmers cope with climate change and build long-term resilience.

Geo-tagging

Geo-tagging of agricultural assets can support better farm planning and risk management. Through remote sensing and satellite imagery, soil moisture, crop health, and pest or disease outbreaks can be monitored, and suitable advisories may be disseminated at the village, block, and district levels, which would help in timely intervention.
Livestock productivity can also be improved by tracking animal health, feed quality, and early signs of disease. This reduces losses and improves farm income. In the dairy sector, automation can improve quality assurance by reducing manual handling and operational losses.
In the fisheries sector too, digital technologies can support efficient planning by providing weather updates, price trends, and market information. Mapping of water bodies, tracking of the fisheries value chain, and digital commerce platforms can further connect fishers directly with buyers.
The mapping of fishing zones and the monitoring of marine ecosystems can help in reducing the risks involved in fishing activities, advising the fishermen on locating a good catch offish, and at the same time ensuring that fishing is done in a sustainable manner.

Way Forward

Despite the immense potential of digital agriculture, there are a few important areas that need to be strengthened to fully move towards Agriculture 4.0. One of the key concerns is the limited digital infrastructure in many rural areas.
High-speed internet connectivity and better power supply with renewable energy sources shall ease the farmers’ access to digital services when they need them. Mobile and broadband coverage is still weak in several remote locations. Another important area is affordability; we need to take steps to make these digital technologies affordable to everyone, so that they become a model of Inclusive Digital Agriculture.
The Government has taken several important steps to promote digital agriculture through flagship schemes such as PM-KISAN, Digital India, Kisan Credit Cards, Soil Health Cards, and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, etc. The Digital India programme has brought high-speed broadband connectivity to over 2.5 lakh villages, laying the foundation for precision farming.
While these initiatives have created strong momentum, the overall adoption of digital innovations in agriculture still has a long way to go. Continued efforts are needed to improve awareness and digital capacity among farmers, expand access to affordable finance, upgrade rural infrastructure, and develop localised technology solutions suited to the diverse needs of Indian agriculture.

Conclusion:

It is essential to move from isolated efforts to a nationwide movement for digital agriculture that is inclusive, scalable, and centred on the farmer. The transition to Agriculture 4.0 is not only about technology adoption but also about strengthening rural communities, reshaping agricultural systems, and building resilience across the value chain. With the right vision, coordination and commitment, India can become a global leader in agricultural innovation, where every farmer- regardless of land size, is empowered to thrive in the digital age.