(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Ploughs to Precision: Digital Revolution in Agriculture

(AUGUST-2025)

Ploughs to Precision: Digital Revolution in Agriculture

Context:

Traditionally, Indian farming relied heavily on manual labour, rudimentary tools, and was highly dependent on weather conditions. However, in recent years, agriculture in India has undergone a transformative shift with the advent of digital technologies. The cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, drones, GPS-enabled machinery, satellite imagery, and Internet of Things (IoT)-based solutions are revolutionising farming practices.

Transition from Tradition to Technology:

This transformation, known as Precision Agriculture, is enhancing productivity, enabling real- time, data-driven decision-making, and building resilience against climate and market uncertainties. Farmers who once depended on intuition and traditional knowledge are now increasingly empowered by mobile applications and digital tools to make informed decisions about sowing, irrigation, fertilisation, and harvesting.

Key Digital Interventions

India’s agricultural landscape is undergoing a technological transformation through a range of digital innovations. These interventions are enhancing productivity, improving resource efficiency, and empowering farmers with real-time, data-driven solutions.

Precision Farming and IoT

Precision farming leverages the Internet of Things a network of interconnected smart devices equipped with sensors, software, and data-processing capabilities, to collect and analyse real-time information on soil conditions, crop health, weather, and resource usage.
This data-driven approach enables the precise application of inputs such as water, fertilisers, and pesticides, minimising waste and maximising efficiency.
IoT-powered solutions automate key agricultural operations like irrigation scheduling, pest control, and nutrient delivery.
These systems also provide farmers with actionable insights through mobile apps or cloud- based platforms, enhancing decision-making and operational control.
As a result, precision farming not only improves crop yields and input efficiency but also promotes environmental sustainability by conserving resources and reducing chemical runoff.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (Al) is playing a transformative role in Indian agriculture by enhancing decision-making, efficiency, and productivity. Al-powered tools analyse vast amounts of data from satellite imagery, weather patterns, soil health records, and crop patterns to provide actionable insights to farmers.
These tools support soil health monitoring, pest detection, irrigation scheduling, yield prediction, and crop advisory services. By reducing input costs and improving output quality, Al is helping Indian agriculture to become more resilient, data-driven, and sustainable.

Satellite and Remote Sensing

Satellite and remote sensing technologies have become indispensable in modern Indian agriculture, offering precise and large-scale monitoring of crops, soil health, and climatic conditions.
These advanced tools provide high-resolution imagery and real-time data that support the assessment of crop growth stages, soil moisture levels, pest and disease outbreaks, and yield forecasting.
Such insights enable timely decision-making for farmers, researchers, and policymakers— facilitating targeted interventions, efficient resource allocation, and effective disaster management. Government initiatives like FASAL (Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro meteorology, and Land-based observations), in collaboration with ISRO, have significantly improved the accuracy of crop forecasting and drought early warning systems.

Digital Marketplaces and e-Governance in Agriculture

Digital marketplaces and e-governance tools are transforming Indian agriculture by enhancing market access, transparency, and service delivery.
Electronic trading platforms like e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) connect over 18 million farmers directly with buyers, ensuring fair pricing and reducing reliance on intermediaries.
Similarly, initiatives such as Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), e-ChoupaI, and SmartGaon are fostering inclusive rural development by democratising access to supply chains and promoting price transparency.

Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology is playing an increasingly important role in Indian agriculture by ensuring traceability, transparency, and trust throughout the supply chain.
As a decentralised digital ledger, blockchain records transactions in a transparent and tamper-proof manner.
Data is stored in blocks linked chronologically through cryptographic methods, making it highly resistant to alteration or hacking.
By documenting every stage of a crop’s journey— from farm to fork— on this secure and tamper-proof platform, blockchain verifies the origin, quality, and handling of agricultural produce. This not only strengthens food safety and reduces post-harvest losses but also enhances consumer confidence and enables farmers to access premium markets.

Hardware Automation

Hardware automation in Indian agriculture leverages advanced machines and devices to reduce manual labour, enhance efficiency, and improve productivity.
Technologies such as automated irrigation systems, drone sprayers, and sensor-based machinery enable farmers to monitor crops, apply inputs with precision, and manage large fields more effectively.
Innovative tools like Nano Ganesh enable farmers to control irrigation pumps remotely via mobile phones.
Equipment such as remote-operated transplanters has reduced labour fatigue significantly, making farming less strenuous and more efficient—especially for small and marginal farmers.
These advancements are transforming farming into a more productive, less labour-intensive, and cost-effective enterprise, particularly benefiting small and marginal farmers.

Digital Agriculture Mission

The Digital Agriculture Mission, launched by the Government of India, aims to transform the agricultural sector through the integration of cutting-edge digital technologies.

Empowering Farmers Through Technology

Digital Agriculture Mission aims to transform farming by integrating technology into every step. With tools like Farmers Registry, Geo-referenced village Maps and Crop Sown Registry, farmers gain access to valuable data that empowers them to make wise decisions, improve productivity and enhance their livelihoods.

Digital Agriculture Mission

Mission on September 2, 2024, with a total outlay of crore, including an allocation of crore earmarked for the financial year 2025-26. The Mission envisions building a robust digital agriculture ecosystem to drive innovative, farmer-centric digital solutions and ensure timely, reliable crop-related information for all farmers across the country.
It leverages advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (Al), Machine Learning, Blockchain, Drones, Remote Sensing, GIS, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to create a unified digital platform that enhances transparency, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

AgriStack Project

A key component of Digital Agriculture Mission is the Agristack project, which compiles comprehensive digital data on farmers, including demographic details, land holdings, and cropping patterns. It comprises three core components:

the Farmers’ Registry, which links digital farmer IDs with Aadhaar, land, and financial records;
Geo-referenced village maps, enabling plot- level mapping through GIS and satellite data; and
the Crop Sown Registry, which captures real-time crop data using satellite imagery and field surveys.

AgriStack enables digital identification and authentication of farmers for accessing various services such as credit insurance, subsidies, and procurement. Significant progress has been achieved underthe mission,including the creation of a comprehensive digital database of over 11crore farmers, linked with Aadhaar-based land records.

Government Digital Platforms and Apps

Government initiatives like eNAM, Kisan Suvidha, and m-Kisan have revolutionised the way farmers access markets, receive subsidies, and obtain real-time advisory services, thereby enhancing transparency, efficiency, and empowerment in the agricultural sector.

Way Forward

Empowering farmers through targeted training programmes is essential to enhance digital literacy and build confidence in using digital tools. These programmes should be tailored to regional needs, account for varying literacy levels, and be delivered in vernacular languages to ensure accessibility.
Simultaneously, the government must continue to invest in strengthening rural digital infrastructure, such as reliable internet connectivity, mobile networks, and power supply. Public-private partnerships involving government agencies, agri- tech startups, FPOs, and research institutions are also crucial to co-develop and scale affordable, farmer-centric technologies.
Collectively, these coordinated efforts can build a resilient digital agriculture ecosystem that boosts productivity, sustainability, and rural livelihoods.

Conclusion

Indian agriculture is witnessing a profound transformation— from age-old traditional methods to a modern, data-driven ecosystem. With the integration of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, drones, satellite imaging, and blockchain, farming is becoming more precise, sustainable, and profitable. These innovations are enhancing productivity, reducing input costs, and empowering farmers with timely information and better market access.

While challenges such as limited digital literacy, inadequate rural infrastructure, and affordability of technology persist, strategic interventions through government initiatives like the Digital Agriculture Mission, AgriStack, e-NAM, and Namo Drone Didi, etc. are steadily paving the way for a more inclusive and empowered farming community. With continued investment in digital infrastructure, localised training, and inclusive policy support, India can ensure that the benefits of digital agriculture reach every corner of the country.