Category: Agriculture

The first annual review meeting of Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) 2.0 occurred on December 5-6, 2024, at SKUAST in Srinagar, Kashmir. The meeting aimed to assess the progress and future directions of rural technology initiatives. IoT-Enabled Fertigation System Prof. Sood inaugurated an IoT-enabled fertigation system at SKUAST, which enhances the efficiency of water and…

In September 2024, Gujarat initiated the Digital Agriculture Mission and introduced “Farmer IDs” for 25% of its farmers. It is an advancement toward a digital agriculture ecosystem, part of the Government of India’s Agri Stack programme. What is a Farmer ID? A Farmer ID is a unique digital identity, which links to a farmer’s Aadhaar…

Drylands support a portion of the global population, which provides livelihoods for 2.7 billion people. However, many dryland areas face degradation. CGIAR has launched the 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD) to address these challenges. Background of the GSRD The GSRD was introduced at COP16 in Riyadh and builds on over 50 years of…

Moravec’s paradox illustrates how AI excels at complex tasks but struggles with simple, interactive ones. This opens the door for combining human intelligence with AI, especially in agriculture. By Integrating traditional farming knowledge with AI, this Hybrid Agricultural Intelligence (HAI) can create sustainable solutions to support Indian farmers. Importance of Agriculture in India Agriculture is…

The Agriculture Department has introduced ‘Ashraya’ farmer service centres, which aim to provide digital services to farmers across the Kerala. They are an extension of the recently launched ‘Kathir’ app (short for ‘Kerala Agriculture Technology Hub and Information Repository’), which consolidates farm-related services into one platform, which will enhance farmers’ access to these digital services.…

The National Seed Congress (NSC) has brought into light urgent needs in the seed sector. Experts advocate for updates to the Seeds Bill of 2004 and the Seeds Policy of 2002. These updates should reflect modern advancements and address farmer concerns. Importance of Policy Updates Experts emphasize the necessity of revising outdated policies. The current…

The government of Arunachal Pradesh has launched ‘Mission Arun Himveer’, which aims to improve market access for agricultural and horticultural products. It was announced in Itanagar with the signing of an agreement between the Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Chief Minister Pema Khandu was present at the event.…

The Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2024 (BAHS) was revealed on National Milk Day in New Delhi. Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh led the release of the event and featured key officials, including Ministers of State and the Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Survey Overview The BAHS 2024 report is based…

The Centre has recently expanded the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), which aims to enhance community farming assets and improve post-harvest management infrastructure. The original scheme began on July 8, 2020, which faces important challenges at the grassroots level. Crop Wastage in India India experiences 15-20% crop yield wastage, which is notably higher than the 5-15%…

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah recently addressed the 91st General Council meeting of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) in New Delhi. He brought into light the government’s commitment to uplift farmers through the cooperative sector. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the focus is on self-reliance and positive societal changes. NCDC’s Role…