The traditional methods of agricultural disease protection have relied heavily on expert visual inspection but as technologies such as Machine Learning and Deep Learning penetrate the remotest areas of the nation, practices are advancing with the advent of technology. The use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) has made it possible for AI to diagnose problems and offer farm-specific solutions in vernacular languages. It is also able to adjust to contingencies such as sudden rainfall and drought to suggest solutions. However, only a few players have been able to provide accurate results to farmers. One such player is ITCMAARS (Metamarket for Advanced Rural and Agricultural Services), a pioneering initiative by ITC Ltd. It is a ‘phygital’ platform that provides a combination of digital and physical services that are personalised according to the needs of each farmer. It has unique features such as Kisaan Credit Cards (KCC) and partnerships with Farmer Produce Organisations (FPOs) that are instrumental for on-ground data collection and technological improvement.
Intelligent Agriculture: Where traditional knowledge meets Artificial Intelligence
