Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, S.V. Suresha speaking at the national conference organised at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Raichur on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Pointing to the growing demand for farm produce because of the increasing population, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru (UAS-B), S.V. Suresha has stressed the need for increasing production to meet the demand by switching to smart agriculture.
“Take the example of the initiation of the Green Revolution in 1965 and its impact. The initiative helped India feed its growing population and become self-sufficient in food production. The population growth in the country is constant and we need to achieve nutritional security for people. For that to happen, we need to shift to smart agriculture,” he said.
Terming the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as one of the key components of smart agriculture that will help farmers find real-time solutions to their problems, Mr. Suresha expressed apprehensions about whether such advanced technology will be accessible to small and marginal farmers.
“There is no doubt that AI will be a game changer in agriculture. However, there are certain issues such as whether or not AI tools are accessible to small and marginal farmers or whether they are feasible in small holdings. They need to be addressed. Agricultural scientists need to take up more research to address these issues. Firstly, the extension professionals need to be educated on the application of AI in agriculture so that they can, in turn, educate and motivate the farming community,” he said.
He was speaking at a national conference on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through extension services for sustainable development in agriculture and allied sectors at the University of Agricultural Science, Raichur (UAS-R), on Thursday.
The event was organised by the UAS-R in association with UAS-B, Indian Society of Extension Education, South Zone- Karnataka Chapter, Bengaluru, Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes in Hyderabad and Bengaluru that function under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Pointing out difficulties that farm scientists faced in their extension activities during the COVID-19 period, Vice-Chancellor of UAS-R M. Hanumanthappa, who presided over the inaugural session, said that his university developed technologies and tools to meet the requirements of farmers.
“Based on farmers needs, the university has developed AI-related technologies. One among them is e-SAP which helps farmers to get rid of pests and diseases. In future, there is a lot of scope for AI application in agriculture and allied sectors in achieving efficiency and high productivity,” he said.
Assistant Director-General of Agricultural Extension, ICAR, New Delhi, R. Roy Burman, who was the chief guest, highlighted the importance of AI-based blockchain and data analysis in automating agricultural transactions such as buying and selling crops.
Member of the Board of Management of the University Thimmappa Somappa Chavadi stressed the need for applying AI not just to increase production but also for better pricing of farm produce.
Another member of the board D. Mallikarjun said that AI will help in improving precision in farming to achieve the maximum productivity.
Organising secretary of the conference S.B. Goudappa, UAS-B faculty member C. Narayana Swamy and others were present. Over 300 delegates from across the country participated in the event.
Published – January 10, 2025 07:10 pm IST
