Moravec’s paradox, which explains that Artificial Intelligence (AI) excels at complex tasks beyond human capability but struggles with tasks requiring direct interaction with the environment, offers scope for cross-linking human intelligence with AI for mutual improvement. This paradox could pave the way for developing Hybrid Agricultural Intelligence (HAI) by combining farmers’ knowledge with AI, creating sustainable solutions that are tailored to the dynamic challenges confronting India’s agricultural sector.
Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. As in the Economic Survey’s provisional estimate for 2023-24, the contribution of agriculture to the Indian GDP is pegged at 18.2 % at current prices while providing a livelihood to 42.3% of the 1.4 billion citizens. India’s agriculture, done in 219.16 million hectares during 2021-22 (Land Use Statistics at a Glance-2018-19 to 2021-22, Government of India), has been shaped by the unique knowledge and adaptive strategies of farmers accumulated over thousands of years of ecological understanding.
Indian farmers have developed deep knowledge to deal with diverse seed and planting material requirements, crop rotation and management, soil types, weather patterns and consumer preference. This traditional “farmers’ intelligence” or the Indigenous Technology Knowledge (ITK) forms a vital foundation for smallholders (who constitute over 80% of the agricultural community), to sustain yields on small land holdings despite minimal resources and unpredictable monsoons. Complementing this, scientific research led by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has further enriched farmers’ knowledge and capabilities, playing a key role in empowering them and contributing to India’s rise as a leading agricultural nation.
The advent of technology
In recent years, AI, machine learning, drone applications, cutting-edge sensors and remote sensing technologies well-suited to the large farming areas have helped agriculture rapidly advance in developed countries. Now, increasingly, these innovations have begun making an entry in Indian agriculture, with an aim to enhance productivity and efficiency and also sustain the environment.
However, small landholdings create unique challenges for Indian farmers to adopt AI technologies since they are designed for large farms. Hence, many still rely on traditional farming knowledge which has allowed Indian farmers to manage microclimates and optimise yields through century-long accrued insights through a combination of practical tactile observations, visual cues and oral folklore passed down through generations. Their ITK was refined over hundreds of years, including the Green Revolution period as well, allowing them to develop adaptive strategies in local agriculture that could align with natural resources constraints, ecological changes and enhanced resilience against different stresses.
Innovative farmers have developed new crop varieties through long-term breeding. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPVFRA) was established in 2001 to protect their contributions. Additionally, many farmers conserve wild cereal, millet varieties and horticultural crops with valuable traits, recognised through the PPVFRA’s Genome Saviour Awards. Farmers and village artisans have also created tools and equipment that are suited to Indian agriculture, such as the popular coconut climbing device by M.J. Joseph of Kerala, known as the ‘Chemperi Joseph’ device.
Rural Indian women constitute 48% of self-employed farmers and 33% of agricultural labourers, making them integral to sustainable farming practices. They handle critical tasks such as seed selection and planting, polycropping, soil health, water management and pest control involving low-input, organic methods, and post-harvest processing suitable for local conditions. Their expertise in agriculture plays a vital role in enhancing the resilience of smallholder farms against environmental changes.
On indigenous knowledge
To capture the indigenous agriculture technologies developed by the farmers, the ICAR, in the year 2000, under the National Agricultural Technology Programme, had initiated a Mission Mode Project on Collection, Documentation and Validation of the ITK. The information had been published as the Inventory of ITK in Agriculture as two part documents (Das et al., 2002). These remain an important repository of Indian farmers’ knowledge which could be put to wider use.
Despite the robustness of Indian farmers’ indigenous knowledge, which evolved alongside Green Revolution technologies to adapt to local conditions, the increasing pressures of soil degradation, climate change, market volatility, limited resources including labour now demand enhanced support systems. This is where the potential of AI and modern technology becomes particularly relevant.
The Global AI market is growing at a CAGR of 23.1% from 2023 to 2028, with a rise in investments from $1.47 billion to $4.7 billion during this period. It is estimated that the adoption of AI could reduce cost of cultivation by 22% as in an Ark-Investment report. Already, under the AI4AI programme (AI for Agriculture Innovation) started by the Indian government, an initiative called ‘Saagu Baagu’ in Khammam district of Telangana State had shown that from 2020 to 2023, the adoption of AI-enhanced chilli yield by 21% per acre, reduced pesticide application by 9%, a 5% decrease in fertilizer usage, and an 8% improvement in unit prices due to quality enhancements. Consequently, chilli farmers earned more than ₹66,000 per acre per crop cycle, enhancing their income substantially. This clearly indicates the scope of AI in transforming Indian agriculture.
To effectively develop hybrid agricultural intelligence (HAI), farmers need to recognise the value of their own agricultural knowledge as well as the potential of modern AI technologies. Training programmes should be implemented to educate them on using AI tools in conjunction with their farming practices.
Need for collaborative platforms
Collaborative platforms should be developed where farmers can share their farming knowledge with AI developers while integrating agricultural technologies generated by research organisations. This will not only refine AI tools for agriculture but also provide farmers with advanced insights and innovative solutions to enhance their practices. This ongoing data integration will create a symbiosis of farmers’ wisdom and modern technology, resulting in continuous adaptive solutions modified to changing farming needs. AI platforms such as ‘Kisan-e-mitra’, ‘Bhashini’ and ‘Sarvam’ can facilitate this exchange through multilingual support. Pilot projects must be launched across regions to test this hybrid approach, evaluating its impact on efficiency, yields, income, and overall sustainability and refined further.
Partnerships among the government, ICAR, tech companies, and farmers’ cooperatives are crucial for developing HAI. However, such partnerships should be equitable, ethical, inclusive and ensure safeguarding national data, the interests of the farming community, and farm labour and the food security of the nation. Guaranteeing affordable and accessible AI tools for smallholder farmers is of paramount importance too.
Despite challenges such as data integration, privacy concerns, financial constraints, and social resistance, if successfully implemented, HAI has the potential to transform Indian agriculture. By combining farmers’ knowledge with AI, HAI can make farming more resilient, sustainable, and adaptable to future challenges, leading to a more prosperous and resource-efficient agricultural sector in India.
Murali Gopal is Principal Scientist, Agricultural Microbiology and Head of the Division of Physiology, Biochemistry and Post-Harvest Technology, ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, Kerala. Alka Gupta is Principal Scientist, Agricultural Microbiology, ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute Kasaragod, Kerala. The views expressed are personal
Published – December 04, 2024 04:00 am IST
