IoT and Artificial Intelligence-based SmartAgri project by Vodafone Idea (Vi) Foundation, provides precise and practical data to help farmers achieve better yields and income
INDIA: Mamta Thakur, a farmer from Sirsawadi village in Nagpur District, has installed a biogas unit and vermicompost pit on her farm. A training session organized by Vodafone Idea Foundation’s SmartAgri project inspired Mamta to adopt intelligent and sustainable farming techniques. Today, Mamta’s 4-acre land yields over 18-20 quintals of organic toor dal, soya bean, cotton, and other crops, as compared to the earlier yield of 15 quintals.
SmartAgri sessions encouraged Ashwini Tondare from Yavatmal to adopt smart farming technologies such as soil sensors and HD Crop View Camera that help her achieve better yields and income. She has also embraced organic farming and aspires to grow low-cost, nutrient-rich produce.
Like Mamta and Ashwini, over 48,500 farmers across 5 districts in Maharashtra have benefited from Vi SmartAgri Project which brings together advanced technology interventions to help farmers improve their livelihood and adopt sustainable farming methods. With the use of the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and real-time technology solutions, Smart Agri provides farmers with information on critical elements to farming like soil and air quality, wind, the presence of insects and pests, and crop growth.
Implemented in Nagpur, Amaravati, Wardha, Nanded, and Yavatmal districts across the state, Smart Agri has empowered farmers to gain 8-12% higher yield and reduce costs by 15-20%.
Commenting on the impact of the SmartAgri project, P Balaji, Chief Regulatory & Corporate Affairs Officer, VIL, and Director, Vodafone Idea Foundation, said, “Agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for 58% of the Indian population, with 70% of the rural households dependent on it. Using technology, Vodafone Idea Foundation’s SmartAgri project is transforming farming practices in India, instilling confidence in farmers to use technology and ‘intelligent’ solutions to improve productivity. Our technology intervention has resulted in increased yield, better crops, and increased profits for the farmers bringing about a social impact in the Indian agriculture space We are now happy to further expand the project beyond Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to the four states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, and Telangana, enabling over 2.8 lakh farmers to reap the benefits of this transformation.”
SmartAgri also provides small farmers with physical assistance to incorporate sustainable agricultural practices to increase their yield. As part of the program, Vodafone Idea Foundation has empaneled 140 tech-savvy young agri-entrepreneurs and 18 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) to assist the farmers and help them access vital information about their crops with ease.
In 2020, Vodafone Idea Foundation launched the Smart Agri project in the agri-heartlands of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to demonstrate the impact of technology in transforming agricultural practices in India.
