A comprehensive analysis of the advances in Indian Digital Agricultural architecture

Abstract

ICT-based interventions such as smart farming and precision agriculture are helping to improve the output of traditional agricultural systems and drive them toward sustainability. Data-driven technologies like remote sensing, smart sensors, and IoT-based devices constructed over AI/ML algorithms have become a fundamental aspect of agriculture that assists farmers with critical decision-making. This revolution is strengthening the farmers in terms of farm management by improving crop yield, pest control, soil health, etc. in real-time. We have thoroughly reviewed the digital adoption in terms of insights into the Indian agriculture sector and presented a comprehensive account of major ICT initiatives undertaken followed by a redundancy analysis as well as its influence on the sector. Unfortunately, while being a significant agrarian country, India's adoption of digital solutions is still in its infancy, as apparent from a close look at important FMIS and key components of recognized solutions used internationally. We found 28 FMIS solutions that are active globally, and have produced a list of 29 local (Indian) applications spread across 23 different agricultural sub-domains. Sadly, a majority among these were not unique and replicated similar features, besides just a few were found to be crop-specific applications. The article is unique in its approach to presenting the tale of digital penetration in the Indian agriculture sector and will be helpful to further Agri-stack vision of India.