(MENAFN- KNN India)
New Delhi, Jan 30 (KNN) A new survey by the Esya Centre reveals that artificial intelligence start-ups in India's agricultural sector are grappling with significant obstacles despite their potential to transform farming practices.
The January 2025 report, which examined four AI agritech start-ups, identified data availability, poor rural connectivity, and farmer adoption as primary challenges facing the sector.
The study highlights that while AI solutions show promise in areas such as resource optimisation, soil health preservation, and weather prediction, start-ups struggle to access quality data necessary for developing robust AI models.
Government databases, which could be valuable resources, often contain incomplete or outdated information. Additionally, access to crucial data sources like weather APIs remains prohibitively expensive for many start-ups.
Rural connectivity poses another significant hurdle, with 70 per cent of the rural population having poor or no access to digital services. The report notes that broadband penetration in rural India stands at just 29.3 per cent, compared to 93 per cent in urban areas, severely limiting the effectiveness of IoT-based solutions that require consistent internet connectivity.
The survey also revealed challenges in farmer adoption of AI technologies. Many farmers hesitate to embrace new solutions due to the long gestation period required to realise benefits, coupled with limited digital literacy and a general distrust of technological interventions.
This skepticism is partly attributed to previous unsuccessful digital agriculture initiatives.
To address these challenges, the report recommends several solutions, including government support for field demonstrations, standardised metrics for validating AI solutions, and improved access to agricultural databases.
The study particularly emphasises the need for certified pilot projects to build investor and industry trust in AI agritech solutions.
The findings come at a crucial time for Indian agriculture, as the sector's GDP contribution has declined to 15 per cent in FY-23 despite supporting the livelihoods of over 70 per cent of rural households.
The report suggests that AI technologies could help address persistent challenges in agricultural productivity and climate change resilience, provided these implementation barriers are effectively addressed.
(KNN Bureau)
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