New AI Platform Connects Farmers and Scientists for Pest Control | The Hindu

The Union Government launched the AI-based National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) on Thursday, August 15, 2024. This system will enable farmers to connect with agriculture scientists and experts on pest control via their phones. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that the system aims to instill a scientific approach in farmers and reduce their reliance on pesticide retailers.

Sending off the program, Horticulture Clergyman Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the point of NPSS is to decrease the reliance of ranchers on pesticide retailers and instill a logical methodology among them towards bother the executives. To assist farmers and specialists in pest control and management, NPSS will use AI tools to analyze the most recent pest data.

Mr. Chouhan stated, "The Centre's effort is to bring new technological innovations in agriculture to the farmers" at the launch event here at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. He added that increasing yield is a priority for the Narendra Modi government and that "all new developments in the field of agriculture should be beneficial to the farmers." Better seeds are needed by farmers to boost output. This is being worked on with farmers by our scientific community, he said.
The Minister stated that technology ought to reach the countryside, and NPSS is one such initiative. It will aid in healing if we are aware of the pest attack immediately and at the beginning. The pests will be identified and controlled with the assistance of this system. Farmers must benefit from the technology, he said, adding that the Ministry will work to improve communication between scientists and farmers.

According to the Ministry, NPSS will assist approximately 14 million farmers in the country. The platform will be used by the center to connect scientists with the fields. It stated that farmers can use the NPSS platform to take photographs of the insect or the crops that are infested, and these will be sent to scientists and experts.

According to Union Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, "the challenge is using the correct quantity of the correct pesticide at the correct time, and this system helps the farmers to address this challenge." He stated that it will assist in addressing the issue of excessive pesticide use.

Using technology, this system treats diseases at the right time. It will aid in precise treatment and diagnosis. Farmers' confidence will rise as a result, and production will also rise. It will also preserve the soil. He stated, "It is a technological platform that does not require any additional funding. According to Mr. Chaturvedi, the technology will be sent to States so that they can use their outreach programs to spread the word. “Based on proper trials, we released this system after successfully completing pilot schemes,” he stated.

Source - https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/new-ai-platform-will-connect-farmers-and-scientists-over-phone-aid-in-pest-control/article68530026.ece