Page 163 - CW E-Magazine (31-12-2024)

Special Report Special Report

Transforming Indian agriculture – some steps ways and means to overcome the supported by AI. It aids in enhancing productivity and sustain soil health on
challenges of climate change, soil crop output, soil quality, agricultural sustainable basis.
degradation and water scarcity. input control and early disease out-
ndia is the most populous country area; adverse effect of climate change; Large numbers of agri-tech start-ups break warning. Government is also India can lead in transforming
in the world with a geographical etc. are cropping up. are based in India, and various venture Digital Agriculture Mission giving fi nancial support to agri-tech agriculture
Iarea of about 329.7-million ha. Popu- capital funds and angel investors have Realising the vital scope, Govern- fi rms. As awareness grows, India has the
Target Your Market More Effectively
lation will continue to rise. The coun- There is no doubt that the Green long supported the sector. Satellite- ment of India announced a Digital Agri- opportunity to take a lead in transform-
try has progressed well in agricultural Revolution has paid high dividends, based crop monitoring and drone tech- culture Mission which aims to create Raising effi ciency of fertiliser ing agriculture through mobilisation of
production, ensuring food and nutri- but with pros and cons. A second Green nology are also being promoted. digital ecosystems for farmers, improve production and use IndiaChemTrade
digital tools, setting a global example
ChemImpex
tion security to the teeming population. Revolution is the need of hour, which effi ciency of government programmes, Fertiliser industry is a major con- in sustainable farming that balances
For subscribers only
Free for subscribers of Chemical Weekly
Production of food grains and horticul- can only be possible with systematic Balanced fertiliser usage and support evidence-based policy tributor to the growth and development productivity with ecological preserva-
ture crops in 2023-24 reached a level outcome-based approach to adopt the Among NPK use, contribution of N making. The mission includes Digital of Indian agriculture. Major fertiliser tion, climate resilience, and ultimately
IndiaChemTrade provides consolidated trade statistics
ChemImpex, the trade database, tracks, on a daily
of 332.3-mt and 353.2-mt, compared best sustainable farming practices to is about 67%. Both over-use or under- Public Infrastructure (DPI) to integrate players have adopted digitization for fostering food and nutrition security for
of India. The information provided here is based on the
basis, exports and imports of chemicals and related
to 329.7-mt and 355.5-mt in 2022-23, address the emerging challenges of use of N in agriculture is detrimen- with State and Central digital infra- enhancing effi ciency in production; as the future generations.
products through the major ports in India — a vital
annual trade data published by the Directorate General
respectively. agriculture. tal to either crops or environment or structure to provide services to farmers well as evaluation and dissemination of
source of commercial intelligence. Find out on-line
of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Government
both. Therefore, N management strategy such as information on soil health, advanced technologies and agronomic For a growth of at least 4% in agri-
how international markets are moving; where your
of India. The database can be searched by: Chemical
Gross Value Added of agriculture Deployment of digital tools needs to be given more emphasis. livestock and fi sheries; AgriStack practices among the farmers. culture on annual basis, productivity of
Name/Harmonised Code to obtain the consolidated
competitors are exporting and at what price; where
Growth in Gross Value Added Interventions for transforming Indian Efforts are continuing towards check- for a farmer-centric DPI to provide trade (import or export) in that item; or by Country to
soil has to be sustained. Use of digital
imports are coming from and how their prices are
(GVA) of agriculture and allied sectors, agriculture are of paramount impor- ing status of N in leaves through digital farmers with a digital identity Fertiliser industry has been giving tools with soil health card portal has
moving. Download all this data, seamlessly, for a
obtain the trade (import or export) in all chemicals and
which was 4.7% in 2022-23, slipped tance, including through broader adop- applications for precision N management. (farmer ID); and Krishi Decision due attention on R&D and developing been helping in recommending nutrient
small fee — online, anytime, with no hassles.
related products between India and that country
to 1.4% in 2023-24. Therefore, contri- tion of digital tools. The pace of spread Availability of high-quality satellite Support System for combining remote and promoting new products such as doses more precisely, sustaining soil
ChemXchange
bution of the sector in GVA also declined of internet users in rural areas has been data has been considerably enhancing sensing data on weather, soils and crops neem-coated urea, sulphur-coated urea, health.
from 18.2% to 17.7% during the period. picking up and has even surpassed N estimates by remote sensing. Amal- to create soil profi le maps. Further, Nano urea, Nano DAP, Nano zinc and
Open to all registered users — no subscription required
urban areas. Even rural women are gamation of crop simulation, modelling Jio Agri (Jio Krishi) platform was Nano copper, specialty fertiliser pro- Adoption of integrated nutrient
ChemXchange — the chemical exchange with a difference — is where you can identify your buyers and sup-
Agriculture used to contribute about transforming Indian agriculture by and remote sensing can be of great help introduced in early 2020 to digitalise ducts etc. management comprising fertilisers,
plyers on-line, any time. This unique platform is free to all advertisers in the print version of Chemical Weekly.
50% in GVA in 1950s, as other sectors making use of internet. There are good in enhancing site-specifi c N manage- the agriculture ecosystem. bio-fertilisers, organic manures, and
of the Indian economy were not so opportunities to tap this potential through ment. Radiative transfer model, based For more information contact: 022-24044477. Fax: 022-24044450
Industry is also promoting use of recycling of agricultural wastes by
signifi cant. encouragement of rural masses to utilise on spectral refl ectance data, may be To provide farmers with real-time drones for application of fertilisers farmers needs impetus.
Email: corporate@chemicalweekly.com or log on to chemicalweekly.com
digital tools for farm operations. used to determine canopy chlorophyll data and the necessary advice, NITI and agrochemicals. Various advanced
Raising agricultural productivity content and so estimate N requirement Aayog has teamed up with IBM to cre- farm technologies are also being taken [Indian Journal of Fertilisers, 20 (11): 1062-
Evolution of fertiliser-responsive Application of remote sensing, sen- of a crop. ate a crop production forecast model to farmers’ doorstep to improve farm 1063, November 2024]
high yielding varieties in late 1960s sors, GPS/GIS, cloud computing, arti-
was a landmark in the history of fi cial intelligence, machine learning, Digital tools such as DSSIFER,
Indian agriculture. However, challenges deep learning, block-chain, robotics, Nutrient-Expert, and KISAAN 2 in
in the sector have been emerging and data analytics, smart phones, drones, etc. conjunction with Soil Health Card
the country will have to keep pace of in agriculture may be a step towards (SHC) Portal and Kisan Sarathi provide
production in line with the need of the transforming Indian agriculture to bring tailored, site-specifi c fertiliser recom-
burgeoning population which may by a second Green Revolution in the mendation, leveraging ICT to enhance Missed a copy !!!
around 167-crore by 2050. country. Use of digital technologies farming effi ciency for sustainable agri-
is also critical for precision agriculture. culture. The website, www.soilhealth. For Digital Edition of this month’s issue & all other past issues
There is no option but to increase dac.gov.in, has facilities for registration
agricultural production by addressing Companies in the private, coopera- of soil samples, recording test results Visit www.hpicindia.com
the challenges being encountered in the tive and PSU sectors have been engaged of soil samples, and generation of SHC
sector. The challenges such as dwin- in providing agri-based information on containing fertiliser recommendations.
dling soil and water resources; deterio- effi cient use of fertilisers and water, A soil test crop response mobile app PDF copies available for download
Mrs. Usha S. - usha@hpicindia.com
ration of soil health; low fertiliser and crop surveillance, advance technolo- provides fertiliser recommendations for
water use effi ciency; decline in crop gies, market prices, weather informa- a specifi c yield target for Maharashtra Register Now
response to fertiliser use and stagnation tion, etc. with the help of digital tools. farmers in different crops.
in farm productivity; adoption of same A good number of agri-based mobile Contact: For Subscription : Mrs. Usha S. - usha@hpicindia.com
cropping system especially in Indo apps have been developed and farmers Digital agriculture has the potential For Advertising : Mr. Vijay Raghavan - vijay@hpicindia.com
Gangetic plains; stagnant net cultivated are getting information in real-time. to transform rainfed farming by offering
162 Chemical Weekly December 31, 2024 Chemical Weekly December 31, 2024 163
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