Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture: Two day National Workshop Inaugurated
Two days National Workshop Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture: Status and Prospects organised by ICAR-IASRI, New Delhi jointly with ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad and ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneshwar at NASC, New Delhi during July 30-31, 2018
The broad objectives of the workshop are to discuss various plausible AI based applications in agriculture and development; to explore the possibilities of incorporating AI based systems in potential areas of agriculture and to provide a platform for agricultural scientists to deliberate on AI and its implementation in agriculture.
Mr. Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Ayog was the Chief Guest of the inaugural session. Dr.Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary DARE & DG, ICAR and Mr. Chhabilendra Roul, Special Secretary DARE & Secretary ICAR, DDGs, ICAR graced the occasion.
Mr. Amitabh Kant delivered the inaugural address and congratulated and appreciated ICAR for taking up the initiative of using AI in agriculture. He emphasized that the required growth rate for India greatly depends upon the agriculture growth of the country, he further said that the agriculture growth cannot be increased substantially unless technology plays a vital role. AI has a potential along with other technologies like IoT and mobile technology to enhance the productivity, cut losses and increase the farmer’s income. He said that this workshop is very timely and is the need of the hour. He also urged that based on the recommendations, a concrete programme should be formulated which can take care of the need of small and marginal farmers. He talked about the value chains, price volatility and the agri-intelligence which needs attention to help farmers to have better income and returns. He pointed out the key challenges being faced by farming community and needs immediate intervention of latest technologies like AI, IoT etc.
Dr.Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary DARE & DG, ICAR in his presidential address called for collaborative research and work to be carried out by the scientists of ICAR in the area of AI and other latest technologies like IoT, Deep Learning etc. He desired that an doable and implementable action plan need to be prepared. He also emphasized that solutions should be cost effective. He also asked to deliberate upon the symbiosis and synergy between Indian Council of Agricultural Research knowledgebase and the private sector and to develop an Institutional framework in PPP mode which can deliver in a time frame.
Mr. Chhabilendra Roul, Special Secretary DARE & Secretary ICAR also emphasized on the integration of AI and IoT applications in agriculture and proposed the formal vote of thanks.
Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-NAARM, welcomed the chief guest, all the dignitaries and participants. Dr.L.M.Bhar, Director, ICAR-IASRI presented an overview of the status of AI in agriculture. He gave a brief on the AI based initiatives being taken in ICAR.
On this occasion, a Policy Brief on AI and IoT: Implications for human resources in Indian NARES, prepared by ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad, was also released.
About 100 delegates from various private organisations, software companies, IITs, Central Universities, Startups, Directors and scientists of various ICAR institutes participated and deliberated in the workshop.
(Source: ICAR-IASRI, New Delhi; ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad and ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneswar)
