🏛️ Legacy IAS – Bangalore | UPSC Civil Services Coaching
E-Technology in the Aid of Farmers
GS Paper III – Indian Economy | Government & Private Initiatives | Digital Agriculture Mission 2024 | Agristack | Namo Drone Didi | AI in Agriculture | Challenges & Way Forward | PYQs + MCQs
⚡ Jump to Section
Introduction
Govt Initiatives
e-NAM
Key Portals
Private Initiatives
Weather & IMD
Digital India
Current Affairs 2024
Challenges
Way Forward
Mains PYQs
Practice MCQs
1. Introduction — E-Technology & Agriculture
📡 What is E-Technology?
An overarching term incorporating all modes of transmission — electronic devices, satellite communication, mobile, services and applications — that help disseminate information with the help of technology.
E-Agriculture = studying the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in agricultural development. Harnessing ICT power in the agricultural domain.
🌾 Why India Needs E-Technology in Agriculture
- Low productivity and fragmented landholdings (86% farmers hold < 2 ha)
- Recurrence of over/under-production — market asymmetry
- Lack of good agricultural practices and farm marketing reforms
- Globalisation demands quality produce at competitive prices
- Farmers need real-time, localised information on inputs, weather, markets
- Experts: IT in agriculture could trigger another Green Revolution
1.1 Uses of E-Technology for Farmers
📊 Improved Decision-Making
- Agro-inputs: seeds, fertilizers, pesticides
- Crop and soil health management
- Weather forecasting and disaster preparedness
- Suitable government schemes information
- Localized information at village/block/district level
📈 Market & Financial Access
- Agro-processing and market support
- Marketing of agricultural produce
- Agro-finance and farm agri-business management
- Price discovery and better bargaining power
🔗 Linkages & Capacity Building
- Linkages with academia, industry, government agencies
- Improving skills and productive capacities
- Cost-effectiveness, viability, sustainability of farming
- Access to emerging technologies and markets
1.2 Drivers of E-Technology in Agriculture
Four Key Drivers: (1) Low-cost mobile/wireless connectivity — affordable tools from the mobile/internet industry boom; (2) Advances in data storage and exchange through continuous IT R&D; (3) Innovative business models — public-private partnerships; (4) Democratisation of information — open access movement and social media.
2. Government Initiatives
🖥️ NeGP-A — National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture
Aims to achieve rapid development of agriculture through ICT-enabled multiple delivery channels:
- Internet, Touch Screen Kiosks, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
- Kisan Call Centres (KCC), Agri-Clinics, Common Service Centres (CSCs)
- Mobile Phones — Broadcast, IVRS, interactive messaging, USSD, Voice Recognition
- Provides integrated ICT-based services to farmers in agriculture and allied sectors
- Key portals under NeGP-A: SEEDNET, DACNET, AGMARKNET (discussed separately)
- DAC has developed 80+ portals, applications and websites in collaboration with NIC
📱 Kisan SMS Portal
SMS portal for farmers developed in 2013 by DAC for dissemination of relevant information, topical and seasonal advisories in local languages.
- Farmers register queries on weather, soil type, market prospects/problems via SMS
- Information provided in farmers' own regional languages
- SMSs transmitted only to farmers within officer's territorial jurisdiction for their opted crop/practice
- Officers can send SMSs to entire jurisdiction or a targeted area
- Integrates existing farmer database
Benefits: Timely crop advisory → technology adoption; disease/pest outbreak control via immediate advisories; better market bargaining power; weather advisories for adverse conditions.
🚚 Kisan Sabha App
- Provides economical and timely logistics support to farmers
- Minimises middlemen interference; directly connects to institutional buyers
- Provides best market rates by comparing nearest mandis
- Books freight vehicles at cheapest cost
- Single stop for farmers, mandi dealers, and truckers
- Platform for people to buy directly from farmers
🛡️ Crop Insurance Mobile App
- Developed under Digital India initiative
- Calculates insurance premium for notified crops based on area, coverage, and loan amount
- Provides details of normal/extended sum insured, premium, subsidy information
- For any notified crop in any notified area — improves PMFBY awareness
☎️ Kisan Call Centres (KCC) — Toll-Free Helpline
- Launched in 2004; answers farmers' queries in their own dialect on telephone
- Provides agriculture-related information through toll-free lines
- Countrywide common eleven-digit number: 1800-180-1551
- Accessible through all mobile and landline networks including private operators
- Replies given in 22 local languages
- Call-conferencing facility with experts; operational 6 AM to 10 PM, all days
🌐 AGRISNET
Component under "Strengthening/Promoting Agricultural Informatics & Communications" scheme. Objective: provide improved services to farming community through ICT use.
3. e-NAM — National Agriculture Market
🏪 e-NAM — Electronic Trading Portal for Unified National Agri Market
Pan-India electronic trading portal connecting existing APMCs and other market yards to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
- Vision: Promote uniformity in agri marketing; remove information asymmetry; real-time price discovery based on actual demand and supply
- Mission: Integration of APMCs through a common online market platform; transparent auction process; timely online payment
- e-NAM Process: Gate Entry → Lot Generation → Quick Assaying (sampling) → Online Trading → Electronic Weighing & Invoicing → Online Payment (RTGS/NEFT/BHIM/Internet Banking) → Post Trade / Gate Exit Module
3.1 Key Features of e-NAM
🏦 e-NWR Integration
Integration of Negotiable Warehouse Receipt System (e-NWRs) — enables small/marginal farmers to directly trade stored produce from WDRA-registered warehouses declared as deemed markets.
🤝 FPO Module
Farmer Producer Organisations upload produce pictures and quality parameters from collection centres. Distant bidders can view produce and bid remotely. FPOs deliver after successful bidding.
🚛 Logistics Module
Links large logistics aggregator platforms. Over 3,75,000 trucks from large logistics providers added. Promotes inter-state trade through online transport facilities for distant buyers.
1,361+
Mandis Integrated (March 2023)
23 States + 4 UTs
Coverage (March 2023)
3,75,000+
Trucks via Logistics Module
SFAC
Lead Implementation Agency
Potential Benefits of e-NAM: Increased operational efficiency and transparency in mandi operations; enhanced market access through warehouse-based sales; larger national market for secondary trading; reduction in intermediation costs for bulk buyers/processors/exporters; eliminates information asymmetry; emergence of value chains through scientific storage and movement; higher returns to farmers, lower costs to buyers, stable prices for consumers.
4. Key Government Portals
| Portal/Initiative | Full Name | Parent Body | Key Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGMARKNET | Agricultural Marketing Information Network | DMI + NIC (joint venture) | Covers 3,245 market nodes, 300 commodities, 10 languages; prices, arrivals, laws; connected to 2,784 agricultural produce markets |
| SEEDNET | Seednet India Portal | Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Info on quality seeds, seed replacement rate, seed multiplication ratio, breeder/foundation/certified seeds, seed testing labs, certification agencies |
| DACNET | DAC Network | Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) | IT-enabled governance; reduced processing time from 1 year+ to under 3 months; ease of use, low errors, reduced corruption |
| IT Vision 2020 | Information Technology Vision 2020 | DAC under National Agricultural Policy | Round-the-clock extension services for farmers; networking of agri sector nationally and globally; data reservoirs at Union and State level |
| Kisan Suvidha | Kisan Suvidha App | Ministry of Agriculture | Omnibus app: weather, dealers' market prices, plant protection, agro-advisories, IPM practices; AI-Sowing app integrated |
| Bhuvan | ISRO's Geo Platform | ISRO | Geospatial data on plantation, pest surveillance, weather; supports Krishi DSS under Digital Agriculture Mission |
AGMARKNET Architecture: Local markets → DMI State Offices (27) → State Marketing Directorates (50) → AGMARKNET central portal → Public access via CSCs, mobile operators, tele-centres, Kisan Call Centres, agri-clinics, mobile users, farming community. Each wholesale market portal provides daily information upward through this chain — ensuring national-level price transparency.
5. Private Sector Initiatives
📶 Green SIM — IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL)
- Up to 4 free voice messages daily in areas of interest
- Helpline managed by experts; phone-in programmes and mobile quizzes
- Farmers' queries answered in 22 local languages
- Content across 16 categories: Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Floriculture, Poultry, Irrigation, Fertilizers, Insurance, Banking, Rural Health, etc.
- Online portal (voice, text, images) accessible anytime and via mobile app
🏘️ e-Choupal — ITC Ltd
- Provides farmers the information they need to be more successful
- Enables buyers to come to farmers — reduces farmers' market haul
- Provides storage services and agricultural equipment
- Reaches 4 million+ farmers across 35,000 villages via 6,100 kiosks in 10 states
- Crops: soybean, coffee, wheat, rice, pulses, shrimp across MP, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, AP, Tamil Nadu
📱 Facebook for Farmers (Kerala Model)
- Social media used by Vattamkulam Krishi Bhavan (Malappuram, Kerala)
- Kerala officially included Facebook as tool for agriculture extension activities
- All agricultural officers mandated to have active Facebook accounts
- All registered farmers must maintain social media accounts to connect with local Krishi Bhavan
🤖 mKRISHI — Tata Consultancy Services
Personalised advisory services in voice and visual formats using mobile phones. Provides farm-specific, context-aware advice through AI integration — precision agriculture at farmer level.
🔬 eSagu
IT-based personalised agro-advisory system developed by IIIT Hyderabad. Aims to improve farm productivity by delivering high-quality, farm-specific agro-expert advice in a timely manner to each farmer.
🌾 SasyaSree — Telugu Portal
"One-stop Telugu portal for Information Dissemination" — locally specific, demand-driven knowledge solutions in local language via web portal. Covers 8 districts of AP; video, audio, photo content on best crop management, schemes, market prices, animal husbandry, poultry.
6. Weather-Based E-Initiatives for Farmers
⛅ Mausam App — Ministry of Earth Sciences
- Predicts weather in simple language — no technical jargon
- Temperature, humidity, wind speed & direction for 200 cities — updated 8 times/day
- 3-hourly warnings of localised weather phenomena for ~800 stations
- Past 24 hours + 7-day weather forecast for 450+ cities
- Daily colour-coded (Red/Orange/Yellow) alerts for all districts for next 5 days
🌧️ Meghdoot App + GKMS
- Meghdoot App: Launched alongside Mausam; propagates IMD data specifically for agriculture — crop-specific weather advisories
- GKMS (Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa): Implemented by Govt. of Maharashtra + IMD + MoES; need-based content on weather information and advisories
- CCKN-IA: Climate Change Knowledge Network — Indian Agriculture; initiated by IMD + Maharashtra + GIZ New Delhi
🛰️ NADAMS — National Agricultural Drought Assessment & Monitoring System
Implemented by Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC). Regularly carries out drought assessment at District/sub-district level using:
- Satellite-based remote sensing data
- Rainfall data and ground information on sowing progression and irrigation percentage
- Assessment communicated to concerned State Departments; available online at MNCFC website
IMD also monitors drought and other calamities using: Aridity Index, Standardised Precipitation Index, NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) at district level.
Disaster Preparedness Chain: IMD collects data → State/district weather stations → NADAMS drought assessment monthly → Advisories pushed to farmers via NeGP-A delivery channels (SMS, Kisan Call Centres, KVKs, CSCs, Mausam/Meghdoot apps). Provides disaggregated district-level weather and agro-met advisories for each agro-ecological sub-region.
7. Digital India & Agriculture
🇮🇳 Digital India Programme — Agricultural Impact
Launched 2015; envisions empowering citizens with e-access to government services. Three core components: Digital Infrastructure, Digital Services, Digital Literacy.
- Mobile phone is the preferred delivery medium — mGovernance and mServices
- mAgriculture and mGramBazar (out of 7 components under mServices) directly impact agricultural extension and marketing
- Universal phone connectivity and broadband access to 2.5 lakh villages
- Transform rural India into a digitally-empowered knowledge economy
🏗️ Digital Public Infrastructure
DBT Central Agri Portal — unified central portal for agricultural schemes; farmers adopt modern farm machinery through government subsidies. Reduces leakage in scheme delivery.
🔗 Unified Farmer Service Platform (UFSP)
Combination of Core Infrastructure, Data, Applications and Tools that enables seamless interoperability of various public and private IT systems in the agriculture ecosystem.
💰 $50–65 Billion Potential
India has potential economic value of $50–65 billion through digital agriculture by 2025 — translating to 23% addition to current value of agricultural produce (McKinsey estimate).
Technology Convergence in Agriculture: ML (Machine Learning) + IoT (Internet of Things) + Big Data Analytics + Cloud Computing + AI + Remote Sensing + Blockchain — transforming agricultural value chains. AI-based weather prediction, genetic engineering for resilient crops, agriculture sensors for soil/moisture monitoring, Big Data for supply chain management, livestock monitoring via chips and body sensors.
8. Current Affairs 2024–25 High Priority
💻 Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM) — Approved 2 September 2024
- Outlay: ₹2,817 crore (Central share: ₹1,940 crore); umbrella scheme replacing NeGP-A
- Two Foundational Pillars:
- AgriStack (Kisan ki Pehchaan): Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture — 3 registries: Farmers' Registry (Farmer ID like Aadhaar), Geo-referenced Village Maps, Crop Sown Registry
- Krishi Decision Support System (Krishi DSS): Integrates remote sensing data on crops, soil, weather, water resources into comprehensive geospatial system
- Additional Elements: Soil Profile Mapping + Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) — GPS/drone-based yield estimation replacing manual Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs)
- Farmer ID Target: 11 crore Farmer IDs — 6 crore in FY 2024-25, 3 crore in 2025-26, 2 crore in 2026-27
- Digital Crop Survey: 400 districts in FY 2024-25; all districts in FY 2025-26
- 19 States have signed MoUs; pilots in 6 states (UP-Farrukhabad, Gujarat-Gandhinagar, Maharashtra-Beed, Haryana-Yamuna Nagar, Punjab-Fatehgarh Sahib, Tamil Nadu-Virudhunagar)
- Progress (2025-26): 8.4 crore+ Farmer IDs generated; Maharashtra used AgriStack to transfer ₹14,000 crore to 89 lakh farmers via Aadhaar-linked accounts
🚁 Namo Drone Didi — Drones for Women SHGs
- Launch: 30 November 2023 (formally operational guidelines issued 2024); Central Sector Scheme
- Outlay: ₹1,261 crore for 2023-24 to 2025-26
- Target: 15,000 Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM receive agricultural drones
- Central Financial Assistance: 80% of drone cost, up to ₹8 lakh per SHG; balance via Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) loan at 3% interest
- Use: Rental drone services to farmers — application of liquid fertilisers and pesticides; crop monitoring; soil analysis
- Training: 15-day drone pilot training for one SHG member; 5-day drone assistant training for another member
- Expected Income: Additional ₹1 lakh per year per SHG from drone rental services
- Implementation: Through KVKs; coordinated by Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs); 1,094 drones distributed in 2023-24
- Drone capacity: Can spray 50–100 acres/day — 30x more efficient than traditional knapsack sprayer
- Linked to Lakhpati Didi target — 3 crore women earning ₹1 lakh+ annually
🌾 Other Key E-Technology Developments 2024
- Kisan Rath App: Connects farmers/FPOs with logistics providers for farm-to-market transportation; reduces post-harvest losses
- PM-KISAN AI Chatbot: Integrated with Bhashini (multilingual) on PM-KISAN app; handles farmer grievances and queries
- WINDS Portal: Weather Information Network Data Systems — hyper-local weather data for accurate PMFBY claim settlement
- DGCES: Digital General Crop Estimation Survey — replacing manual CCEs; 400 districts in 2024-25 using GPS/drones/satellite
- Budget 2024-25: Augmentation of DPI for agriculture announced; ₹5,000 crore allocated to incentivise states for Farmers' Registry creation
- e-NAM expansion (2024): 1,000+ mandis; FPO module upgraded; warehouse receipt system improved; WDRA integration expanded
9. Challenges in E-Agriculture
- Lack of accessibility and affordability to internet, mobile phones, and ICT devices in rural India
- Poor communication infrastructure — connectivity gaps in remote and hilly areas
- Digital literacy extremely low among small and marginal farmers
- Even where mobile phones are available, farmers are reluctant to talk on phone themselves — employ middlemen who can distort communication
- Lack of awareness among farmers about uses and benefits of e-agriculture
- Farmers are reluctant to move away from traditional methods — technophobia
- Low literacy makes communication of science to farmers difficult
- Agri-tech companies have technology expertise but lack application-level domain knowledge for field deployment credibility
- Fear of being replaced by technology exacerbates resistance
- Small landholdings: 86% of farmers hold < 2 ha — high per-acre cost of technology deployment; unviable commercial operation
- Drone technology: High initial cost; limited 20–60 min flight time; weather-dependent; security clearance requirements in border areas
- Subsidy structure: Existing regime doesn't incentivise technology adoption — promotes excessive fertiliser use and water/electricity waste instead
- Funding for Agri-Techs: Limited funding and unvalidated business models; 650+ agri-tech startups but scale issues due to high costs of serving smallholders
- Poor IT infrastructure; high deployment costs
- Lack of seamlessness — limited expertise, gaps in agricultural research, poor data quality and access
- Lack of collaboration among different stakeholders — prevents integration of different data under one roof
- Agricultural research data (journals, papers) not adequately digitised for easy farmer access
- Fragmented delivery channels — too many apps and portals without interoperability
- Privacy concerns around Farmer ID and AgriStack data — data sovereignty questions
10. Way Forward
🏘️ Smart Villages & Rural Access
- Promote concept of Smart Villages in policy and administration
- Invest in financially viable, socially acceptable rural communication infrastructure
- Foster public-private collaboration for rural information centres
- Focus on formats and languages relevant for rural areas — repackage technical information in local languages
🎓 Education & Behaviour Change
- Agriculture introduced as school curriculum subject; computer education as part of agri-education
- Digital libraries in rural areas for farmer learning and technology transfer
- Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) to change farmer attitudes towards ICT
- Capacity building of rural communities in using and maintaining ICT
🔗 Market Chain Strengthening
- Support communication networks among farmers, transporters, buyers, traders for equitable market access
- Systematic capture of local knowledge; support functioning of intermediary organisations
- Vertical integration of diverse ICT tools in present-day agricultural practices
- Integrate conventional extension methods (radio, extension services) with new communication technologies
🔬 Research & Innovation
- Continued training for researchers and extensionists in digital knowledge sharing
- Digitise agricultural research — journals, papers accessible via portals
- Multi-stakeholder institutional mechanisms at local/sub-national level to link rural communities with universities and research agencies
- Increase agri R&D spending — India at 0.30% of Agri GDP vs 1.20% (USA), 1.82% (Brazil)
💡 Precision Agriculture Push
- Scale up Namo Drone Didi — 15,000 SHG drones → 30x efficiency vs manual sprayers
- DGCES implementation — satellite-based CCEs reduce manual errors
- AgriStack Farmer ID → universal access to PM-KISAN, PMFBY, Kisan Credit Card
- Krishi DSS integration → AI-driven crop advisory, drought prediction, input recommendations
🤝 Public-Private Partnership
- Scale up e-Choupal model — ITC's 4 million farmer reach as template
- Mainstream mKRISHI-type personalised advisory platforms for all smallholders
- Link 10,000 FPOs to e-NAM and digital platforms for collective bargaining
- Incentivise agri-tech startups through RKVY-RAFTAAR and production-linked support
11. UPSC Mains PYQs
10 Marks
⏱ ~12 minutes | 150 words
GS Paper III2023Directly Asked
How does e-Technology help farmers in production and marketing of agricultural produce? Explain it. (2023)
Introduction: E-technology encompasses electronic devices, satellite communication, mobile services and applications — transforming India's agriculture where 58% of population depends on farming and productivity remains structurally low.
Production Benefits:
Production Benefits:
- Weather forecasting: Mausam/Meghdoot apps provide 3-hourly, 7-day forecasts; GKMS provides crop-specific weather advisories; NADAMS for drought assessment — farmers sow, harvest and prepare appropriately
- Precision inputs: Soil Health Card app + mKRISHI (TCS) provide farm-specific fertilizer/pesticide recommendations; reduces input waste
- Pest and disease management: Kisan SMS Portal delivers immediate advisories on pest outbreaks to affected geographic zones
- Drone technology (Namo Drone Didi 2024): 15,000 Women SHGs spray fertilisers/pesticides via drones — 30x efficiency; precise application reduces chemical waste
- AI and IoT: mKRISHI, eSagu (IIIT Hyderabad), AI-Sowing App — personalised, farm-specific agro-expert advice; optimal sowing dates
- e-NAM: 1,361+ mandis integrated; transparent online auction; real-time price discovery; eliminates information asymmetry; BHIM/NEFT digital payment
- AGMARKNET: 3,245 market nodes, 300 commodities, 10 languages — timely price and arrival data for producers, traders, consumers
- Kisan Sabha App: Logistics aggregation; compare nearest mandi prices; book cheapest freight — direct institutional buyer connection
- e-NWR integration: Small farmers trade stored produce from WDRA warehouses without physically moving produce to mandi
- FPO Module on e-NAM: Collective selling; distant bidders view produce; reduces middlemen dependence
10 Marks
⏱ ~12 minutes | 150 words
GS Paper III2015Digital India
How can the 'Digital India' programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What steps has the Government taken in this regards? (2015)
Introduction: Digital India (launched 2015) — three core components: digital infrastructure, digital services, digital literacy. For farmers, mAgriculture and mGramBazar under mServices directly impact extension and marketing.
How Digital India Helps Farmers:
How Digital India Helps Farmers:
- Extension services: Universal broadband in 2.5 lakh villages enables KVK-farmer digital connectivity; Kisan Call Centres (toll-free, 22 languages) provide 24/7 advisory
- Market access: e-NAM connects farmers to national market; mGramBazar enables rural e-commerce
- Income support: DBT through PM-KISAN directly to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts — no leakage; ₹4.09 lakh crore disbursed to 9.8 crore farmers
- Insurance: Crop Insurance App calculates PMFBY premium; digital CCE via DGCES for faster claims
- Scheme awareness: Kisan Suvidha App — weather, market prices, agro-advisories, IPM practices in one place
- e-NAM — 1,361+ mandis in 23 states + 4 UTs integrated
- Kisan SMS Portal — 2013; SMS advisories in regional languages
- AGMARKNET — 3,245 market nodes, 300 commodities, 10 languages
- Bhuvan (ISRO) — geospatial data for precision agriculture
- Digital Agriculture Mission 2024 — ₹2,817 crore; AgriStack Farmer IDs; Krishi DSS; DGCES
- Namo Drone Didi — 15,000 Women SHGs with agricultural drones (₹1,261 crore)
- Unified Farmer Service Platform (UFSP) — interoperability of all public and private IT systems in agriculture ecosystem
10 Marks
⏱ ~12 minutes | 150 words
GS Paper IIIVision IAS PYQDrones
Highlight the role that drone technology can play in the agriculture sector. Also highlight the challenges in this regard.
Introduction: Ministry of Agriculture released SOPs for drone use in pesticide application. Namo Drone Didi (₹1,261 crore, 2023-24 to 2025-26) provides drones to 15,000 Women SHGs — government's biggest agricultural drone push.
Role of Drone Technology in Agriculture:
Role of Drone Technology in Agriculture:
- Quick decision-making: Accurate crop scouting data; supports insurance claims through data capture; soil and field analysis for irrigation/fertilization
- Precision spraying: 50–100 acres/day vs 1–3 acres manually; even pesticide/fertiliser distribution; reduces chemical wastage by 25–30%
- Crop health monitoring: NDVI imaging identifies stressed, diseased, or nutrient-deficient areas; early detection = early intervention
- Safety: Safer for farmers in terrains difficult to reach — infected areas, taller crops, high-voltage power line areas
- Water management: Identify areas needing more/less water; detect irrigation leaks
- Seed sowing: Drone seeding in difficult terrain (hills, flooded fields)
- Women's empowerment: Namo Drone Didi → additional ₹1 lakh income/year per SHG; 3 crore Lakhpati Didi target
- Unviable for small farms: 86% farmers < 2 ha; high initial cost (₹5–10 lakh per drone); input cost > output for individual farmers
- Limited flight time: 20–60 minutes per charge; limits daily coverage without multiple batteries
- Skills gap: Specialised skills required; low digital literacy among rural users
- Regulatory hurdles: DGCA clearances needed; security restrictions near borders/sensitive areas
- Weather dependence: Ineffective in rainy/windy conditions — critical during peak pest/disease seasons when spraying is most needed
12. Practice MCQs — E-Technology in Agriculture
Q 1
Consider the following about the Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM) approved in September 2024:
1. It has an outlay of ₹2,817 crore with a central share of ₹1,940 crore.
2. AgriStack consists of three registries: Farmers' Registry, Geo-referenced Village Maps, and Crop Sown Registry.
3. The target is to create digital identities (Farmer IDs) for 11 crore farmers by FY 2026-27 in three phases.
4. Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) uses GPS/drones/satellites to replace manual Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs).
Which are CORRECT?
1. It has an outlay of ₹2,817 crore with a central share of ₹1,940 crore.
2. AgriStack consists of three registries: Farmers' Registry, Geo-referenced Village Maps, and Crop Sown Registry.
3. The target is to create digital identities (Farmer IDs) for 11 crore farmers by FY 2026-27 in three phases.
4. Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) uses GPS/drones/satellites to replace manual Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs).
Which are CORRECT?
All four statements about the Digital Agriculture Mission are correct. Statement 1 ✅: ₹2,817 crore total, ₹1,940 crore central share. Statement 2 ✅: AgriStack's three registries — Farmers' Registry (Farmer ID), Geo-referenced Village Maps, Crop Sown Registry. Statement 3 ✅: 11 crore Farmer IDs — 6 crore in 2024-25, 3 crore in 2025-26, 2 crore in 2026-27. Statement 4 ✅: DGCES replaces manual CCEs using GPS/drones/satellite — 400 districts in FY 2024-25, all districts in FY 2025-26. The DAM also includes Krishi Decision Support System (Krishi DSS) and Soil Profile Mapping. It subsumed the earlier NeGP-A scheme. Correct answer: (b) All four.
Q 2
AGMARKNET is a joint venture of which two bodies, and what does it primarily provide?
AGMARKNET (Agricultural Marketing Information Network) is a joint venture of DMI (Directorate of Marketing and Inspection) and NIC (National Informatics Centre). Key stats: 3,245 market nodes, 300 commodities, 10 languages, connected to 2,784 agricultural produce markets + State Agri Marketing Boards and Directorates. Provides daily price, arrivals, availability, trends, analysis, laws — helpful to producers, traders, consumers. Option (a) describes SEEDNET. Option (b) is incorrect. Option (d) describes e-NAM — whose lead agency is SFAC. AGMARKNET's architecture flows from local markets → DMI State Offices → State Marketing Directorates → Central AGMARKNET portal → public access via CSCs, mobile operators, kiosks. Correct answer: (c).
Q 3
Which of the following correctly describes Namo Drone Didi scheme (2023-24)?
Namo Drone Didi (launched November 30, 2023): Central Sector Scheme; ₹1,261 crore outlay; 15,000 Women SHGs under DAY-NRLM receive agricultural drones; 80% CFA up to ₹8 lakh; remaining cost financed through Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) at 3% interest. The drones are NOT personal — they are used for rental services to farmers for applying liquid fertilisers/pesticides. Expected additional income: ₹1 lakh/year per SHG. Training: 15-day drone pilot training + 5-day assistant training. Implemented through KVKs; coordinated by Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs). Drone capacity: 50–100 acres/day = 30x efficiency over traditional knapsack sprayer. Correct answer: (b).
Q 4
Consider the following statements about e-NAM (National Agriculture Market):
1. e-NAM was launched in 2016 as a pan-India electronic trading portal.
2. As of March 2023, 1,361 mandis from 23 states and 4 UTs have been integrated with e-NAM.
3. SFAC (Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium) is the lead implementation agency for e-NAM.
4. e-NAM's e-NWR integration allows farmers to trade stored produce from WDRA-registered warehouses without physically moving produce to a mandi.
Which are CORRECT?
1. e-NAM was launched in 2016 as a pan-India electronic trading portal.
2. As of March 2023, 1,361 mandis from 23 states and 4 UTs have been integrated with e-NAM.
3. SFAC (Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium) is the lead implementation agency for e-NAM.
4. e-NAM's e-NWR integration allows farmers to trade stored produce from WDRA-registered warehouses without physically moving produce to a mandi.
Which are CORRECT?
All four statements are correct about e-NAM. Statement 1 ✅: e-NAM launched 2016. Statement 2 ✅: As of March 16, 2023, 1,361 mandis from 23 States and 4 UTs integrated. Statement 3 ✅: SFAC (Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium) is the lead implementation agency; software provided free to states by Central Government; grant up to ₹30 lakh per mandi for infrastructure. Statement 4 ✅: e-NWR (Negotiable Warehouse Receipts) integration enables farmers to trade stored produce from WDRA-registered warehouses declared as deemed markets by states — particularly useful for small/marginal farmers who can store and sell at better prices. e-NAM process: Gate Entry → Lot Generation → Assaying → Online Trading → Electronic Weighing/Invoicing → Online Payment → Post Trade → Gate Exit. Correct answer: (b) All four.
Q 5
e-Choupal is an initiative of which company, and what is its approximate reach?
e-Choupal is an initiative of ITC Ltd. Reach: over 4 million farmers, 35,000 villages, 6,100 kiosks, 10 states (MP, Haryana, Uttarakhand, UP, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu). Crops: soybean, coffee, wheat, rice, pulses, shrimp. TCS operates mKRISHI (not e-Choupal). IFFCO operates Green SIM through IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL). e-Choupal enables buyers to come to farmers instead of farmers hauling produce to market; provides storage services; prevents trader manipulation. Correct answer: (c).
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