By Gitam School
Copyright thehindu
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming agricultural efficiency and ensuring sustainability, particularly through technologies such as drone analytics, automated irrigation, and AI-driven crop disease detection. These technologies are helping Indian farmers boost productivity while minimising environmental impact, observed experts at GITAM Deemed to be University during the inauguration of the week-long Faculty Development Program (FDP) on “Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture Health”.
The FDP was initiated by GITAM School of Technology EECE department and IIT Guwahati Electronics and ICT Academy.
In his inaugural address, GITAM pro vice-chancellor Prof. Y. Gouthama Rao noted that India’s smallholding farmers face significant challenges including erratic weather, climate change, pest infestations, and declining yields. He emphasised that AI technologies can enhance agriculture productivity, increase farmer incomes and provide food security in the coming years. He stressed the need for inclusive AI tools for illiterate farmers, suggesting solutions such as voice activated chatbots, visual based crop and soil health monitoring apps in local languages.
GITAM School of Technology director Prof. K. Nagendra Prasad highlighted how AI algorithms process data from multiple sources to assist farmers in making informed decisions, while automated devices streamline planting, irrigation, and harvesting.
He added that the IoT devices collect real-time data from sensors, drones, and other connected equipment, boosting operational efficiency.
GITAM EECE department head Prof. P. Bharani Chandra Kumar said that Andhra Pradesh is actively promoting drone usage in agriculture, with focus on applications like precision spraying of pesticides and fertilizers, soil testing, crop health monitoring, and data collection for precision agriculture.
He added that the State government is providing subsidies to farmers and farmer producer organisations (FPOs) for drone procurement, establishing drone service centres, and offering training for pilots.
Experts from IIT Ropar, NIT Warangal and scientists from CSIR-CSIO Chandigarh, ICAR-IARI New Delhi attended as resource persons.
