Emerging Agricultural Technologies for Sustainable Development of Indian Farmers and their Challenges

Authors

  • Arun Yadav
  • Jampala Maheshchandra Babu
  • Teena Shivnani

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this review paper is to identify the possible aspects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Indian Agriculture sector. The paper also discusses the existing and upcoming digital technologies in the agriculture sector across the globe and the challenges for implementation in Indian Scenario. It also focuses on the multidimensional approach to overcome the challenges of penetration of digitalisation and sustainable development of farmers.

Approach and Methodology: The author reviewed the digital technologies used in farming, Initiatives taken by Indian Government for awareness & implementation of ICT, the contribution of NGO’s and Private entities. The author also analysed the challenges of implementation of ICT in Indian agriculture. Moreover, it also proposes suggestions for increasing the penetration of digitalisation among farmers.

Findings: Indian Government has taken many initiatives to provide internet facility, at the village level in nominal rates, so that ICT has become accessible & affordable for the majority of the population. During the literature review it was observed that there are numerous mobile applications and informational websites and so on in the field of agriculture are implemented for assisting the farmers but, as a one of the significant gap, it is accessed only by a few handful farmers. The data reveals only 3% of Indian farmers are using these applications to some extent.  The literature also listed the challenging factors for the implementation which are as follows: lack of IT infrastructure, lack of digital knowledge, adoption hitches in farmers, void between government policies and their implementation and week public-private participation channels.

Value: ICT is the most cost effective, time effective and effort reducing tool to support small and medium scale farmers as an individual and contribute towards sustainable development of the nation.  The authors suggest a framework to overcome the present scenario for execution and strengthen of different government channels and development of public-private partnership using different ICT models. Further, still, much research has to be done in the field of penetration of digitalisation in the agricultural sector.

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Published

2020-02-17

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Section

Articles