Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Introduce the significance of agriculture sector and need for harnessing e-technology
• Delve into the role of e-technology in transforming the agriculture sector.
• Highlight government’s e-initiatives to empower farmers
• Conclude positively.

Introduction

In a nation where the agrarian sector employs over half the workforce and contributes around 15-17% to the GDP, harnessing e-technology has become imperative to unlock the sector's true potential.

• By leveraging digital technologies (ICTs), the government is driving several e-initiatives aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, improving market access, and enriching farmer livelihoods.

Body

Role of e-Technology in Transforming the Agricultural Sector:

• Precision Farming: E-technology enables precision farming techniques, such as remote sensing, GPS-based soil mapping, and variable rate technology, which optimize resource utilization, reduce waste, and increase yields.
  • Reports suggest using Agriculture-IoT (Ag-IoT) can reduce water usage by 30% with precision farming.
• Real-time Weather and Climate Information: Farmers can access real-time weather forecasts, climate data, and early warning systems through digital platforms, enabling better planning and decision-making.
  • Apps like AccuWeather, MAUSAM (developed by IMD) provide seamless and user-friendly access to weather. Users can access observed weather, forecasts, radar images and be proactively warned of impending weather events.
• Market intelligence: E-platforms provide farmers with up-to-date information on market prices, demand trends, and supply chains, empowering them to make informed decisions and fetch better prices for their produce.
• Access to Agricultural Expertise: E-technology facilitates the dissemination of agricultural knowledge and best practices through online forums, video tutorials, and virtual advisory services, bridging the gap between farmers and experts.
  • Portals/apps such as mKisan, Kisan Suvidha, etc. provide information on topics such as fertilizers, subsidies, weather, and market prices. They can also help farmers manage farm operations in their local language.
• Supply Chain Management: Digital solutions streamline the agricultural supply chain, enabling efficient tracking, traceability, and logistics management, reducing waste and ensuring timely delivery of produce.
  • IIT Ropar has developed an IoT device called Ambitag, which records real-time ambient temperature during the transportation of perishable products, body organs, and blood, vaccines, etc.
    • The AmbiTag temperature data log advises the user whether the transported item is usable or the cold chain has been compromised during the transportation.
• Financial Inclusion: E-technologies like mobile banking and digital payment systems have facilitated financial inclusion for farmers, providing them with easier access to credit, insurance, and government subsidies.
  • A few NBFCs like Clix Capital offer customised loan products through their private or quasi-cooperative digital platform, onboarding farmers and ag-tech start-ups.

Government E-Initiatives to Empower Farmers:

• Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP): It aims to digitize and modernize land records, ensuring transparent and efficient land management for farmers.
• Soil Health Card Scheme: It provides farmers with soil health cards containing soil nutrient status and recommended fertilizer doses, enabling better soil management and productivity.
• e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM): An online trading platform that connects farmers with buyers across the country, enabling better price discovery and reducing intermediaries.
• Kisan Suvidha mobile app: It provides farmers with information on weather, market prices, plant protection, and government schemes, among others.
• Agri-Udaan: An initiative to nurture startup growth in the agricultural sector by connecting promising innovators with institutional investors.
• National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A): To provide end-to-end digitized services to farmers, including information dissemination, input management, and market linkages.

While the government has undertaken various e-initiatives to empower farmers, there is still a need for continued efforts in bridging the digital divide, improving digital literacy, and ensuring last-mile connectivity to maximize the benefits of e-technology in the agricultural sector. Public-private partnerships and collaboration with agri-tech startups can further accelerate the adoption of e-technology and drive the transformation of Indian agriculture.