ICAR institutes are developing advanced tools for smart farming and precision agriculture:
- Drone spraying systems with droplet efficiency studies
- Smart devices and robotic systems developed:
- Smart sprayers and autonomous weeders
- Robotic harvesters and variable-rate nitrogen applicators
- AI-based disease identification devices for crops
- Poultry feed dispensers and deep fertilizer applicators
- Spectral and thermal imaging for water stress indices
5. Soil Health & Fertility Scheme (Since 2014–15)
Enhancing soil quality through scientific testing and awareness:
- Soil Health Cards (SHCs) issued: 24.90 crore (as of 31 March 2025)
- Parameters tested: pH, EC, Organic Carbon, N, P, K, S, and micro-nutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, B)
- Infrastructure created:
- 1,068 Static Soil Testing Labs
- 163 Mobile Labs, 6,376 Mini Labs, 665 Village-level Labs
- Farmer Education:
- 7 lakh demonstrations
- 93,781 training programs
- 7,425 farmer melas
- 70,002 trained Krishi Sakhis for SHC awareness
Through targeted schemes like SMAM, NAMO DRONE DIDI, the Digital Agriculture Mission, and Soil Health initiatives, the Indian Government is fostering a future-ready farming ecosystem. These initiatives not only support technological integration and women empowerment but also ensure sustainable soil management and precision agriculture for improved productivity and rural livelihoods.
