Srinagar, Oct 13: Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, drones and smart sensors could help transform agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir by improving productivity, reducing input costs and addressing challenges posed by climate change and labour shortages, Showkat Rasool, In-charge of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at SKUAST-Kashmir, has said.
Rasool, who is also an Assistant Professor at the university’s College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, said precision farming and data-driven technologies could help farmers make better decisions and use limited land, water and other agricultural resources more efficiently.
He said the centre is focusing on applying AI, robotics and other advanced technologies to develop practical solutions for the agricultural sector, particularly in precision farming and efficient resource management.
“Traditional farming practices have largely depended on experience and estimates. While farmers possess valuable knowledge, the need of the hour is to move towards precision agriculture, where decisions are based on accurate data, scientific analysis and real-time information,” he said.
The university recently hosted an international convention of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers alongside an international symposium on AI and Robotics for Gen-Z Farming. The three-day event brought together approximately 600 participants from more than 300 institutions across the country.
Rasool said the deliberations focused on advances in AI and robotics, the challenges involved in their adoption and measures needed to translate technological innovations into practical, field-level solutions.
He said the discussions also underscored the need for affordable, farmer-oriented technologies capable of delivering tangible benefits to agricultural communities.
Emphasising the importance of precision agriculture, Ahmad said Kashmir’s farming sector faces multiple challenges, including limited land availability, water scarcity, climate variability and extreme weather events. These pressures make efficient resource use essential to improving agricultural productivity and profitability.
He said AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), smart sensors, drones and robotics can help farmers apply water, fertilisers and plant-protection measures according to the specific requirements of their crops.
“The objective is to obtain maximum output with minimum inputs. By improving resource-use efficiency and reducing unnecessary expenditure, these technologies can help make agriculture more productive and remunerative,” he said.
Highlighting their potential in Kashmir’s horticulture sector, Rasool said apple and other horticultural crops are vulnerable to diseases, climatic fluctuations and environmental stresses.
AI-based applications and predictive models, he said, can help identify potential disease outbreaks and generate timely alerts, enabling farmers to take preventive measures before infections spread and cause significant crop losses.
The centre is also focusing on integrating environmental information and weather advisories into AI-based models to generate accurate, location-specific and crop-specific recommendations.
Such advisories can help farmers make informed decisions under changing weather conditions, use resources more efficiently and improve crop management.
Showkat said drones fitted with specialised cameras can capture detailed information about different sections of agricultural fields, helping identify areas affected by diseases, nutrient deficiencies and other crop-related problems.
The information can then be analysed using AI algorithms to support targeted interventions rather than treating entire fields uniformly.
Similarly, intelligent robots equipped with sensing and detection systems could identify crop canopies and apply sprays according to the requirements of specific areas. Such precision-based applications could reduce unnecessary chemical use, lower costs and improve operational efficiency.
Rasool said the adoption of modern technologies could also help address the challenge of attracting younger generations to agriculture.
Many young people, he observed, perceive farming as a traditional occupation with limited financial returns, while labour shortages and rising cultivation costs make agricultural operations increasingly difficult.
AI-powered machinery, robotics and data-driven farming practices could make agriculture more technology-oriented, efficient and attractive to Gen-Z, while opening up opportunities for innovation and skilled employment.
He added that technological interventions could help address the shortage of trained manpower, particularly as high-density orchards and other intensive cultivation systems expand across Jammu and Kashmir.
However, ensuring affordable access to these technologies will be crucial, especially for small and marginal farmers, who form a significant section of the farming community.
Rasool said the high cost of advanced machinery could prevent individual farmers from adopting such solutions unless appropriate financing and access models are developed.
One possible approach is to make AI-powered equipment, agricultural robots and drones available through custom hiring centres and rental-based services, allowing farmers to use advanced machinery without having to purchase it individually.
He said SKUAST-K, in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), has established custom hiring facilities across districts to improve farmers’ access to agricultural machinery. Similar facilities could be expanded to include intelligent farming equipment and advanced technological solutions.
“Technology must be cost-effective and accessible. If farmers are able to see tangible benefits in terms of productivity, reduced costs and improved resource management, its adoption will become more practical and sustainable,” he said.
Rasool added that the expansion of high-density orchards makes intelligent machinery increasingly important, particularly given the limited availability of labour to manage larger and more intensive cultivation systems.
He emphasised that the future of agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir would depend on integrating farmers’ traditional knowledge with scientific research, digital technologies and practical field-level solutions.
By combining AI-based disease prediction, weather-driven advisories, precision application of agricultural inputs and intelligent machinery, SKUAST-K aims to contribute to a more efficient, sustainable and technology-driven farming system that benefits farmers across the region.
Srinagar, Oct 13: Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, drones and smart sensors could help transform agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir by improving productivity, reducing input costs and addressing challenges posed by climate change and labour shortages, Showkat Rasool, In-charge of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at SKUAST-Kashmir, has said.
Rasool, who is also an Assistant Professor at the university’s College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, said precision farming and data-driven technologies could help farmers make better decisions and use limited land, water and other agricultural resources more efficiently.
He said the centre is focusing on applying AI, robotics and other advanced technologies to develop practical solutions for the agricultural sector, particularly in precision farming and efficient resource management.
“Traditional farming practices have largely depended on experience and estimates. While farmers possess valuable knowledge, the need of the hour is to move towards precision agriculture, where decisions are based on accurate data, scientific analysis and real-time information,” he said.
The university recently hosted an international convention of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers alongside an international symposium on AI and Robotics for Gen-Z Farming. The three-day event brought together approximately 600 participants from more than 300 institutions across the country.
Rasool said the deliberations focused on advances in AI and robotics, the challenges involved in their adoption and measures needed to translate technological innovations into practical, field-level solutions.
He said the discussions also underscored the need for affordable, farmer-oriented technologies capable of delivering tangible benefits to agricultural communities.
Emphasising the importance of precision agriculture, Ahmad said Kashmir’s farming sector faces multiple challenges, including limited land availability, water scarcity, climate variability and extreme weather events. These pressures make efficient resource use essential to improving agricultural productivity and profitability.
He said AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), smart sensors, drones and robotics can help farmers apply water, fertilisers and plant-protection measures according to the specific requirements of their crops.
“The objective is to obtain maximum output with minimum inputs. By improving resource-use efficiency and reducing unnecessary expenditure, these technologies can help make agriculture more productive and remunerative,” he said.
Highlighting their potential in Kashmir’s horticulture sector, Rasool said apple and other horticultural crops are vulnerable to diseases, climatic fluctuations and environmental stresses.
AI-based applications and predictive models, he said, can help identify potential disease outbreaks and generate timely alerts, enabling farmers to take preventive measures before infections spread and cause significant crop losses.
The centre is also focusing on integrating environmental information and weather advisories into AI-based models to generate accurate, location-specific and crop-specific recommendations.
Such advisories can help farmers make informed decisions under changing weather conditions, use resources more efficiently and improve crop management.
Showkat said drones fitted with specialised cameras can capture detailed information about different sections of agricultural fields, helping identify areas affected by diseases, nutrient deficiencies and other crop-related problems.
The information can then be analysed using AI algorithms to support targeted interventions rather than treating entire fields uniformly.
Similarly, intelligent robots equipped with sensing and detection systems could identify crop canopies and apply sprays according to the requirements of specific areas. Such precision-based applications could reduce unnecessary chemical use, lower costs and improve operational efficiency.
Rasool said the adoption of modern technologies could also help address the challenge of attracting younger generations to agriculture.
Many young people, he observed, perceive farming as a traditional occupation with limited financial returns, while labour shortages and rising cultivation costs make agricultural operations increasingly difficult.
AI-powered machinery, robotics and data-driven farming practices could make agriculture more technology-oriented, efficient and attractive to Gen-Z, while opening up opportunities for innovation and skilled employment.
He added that technological interventions could help address the shortage of trained manpower, particularly as high-density orchards and other intensive cultivation systems expand across Jammu and Kashmir.
However, ensuring affordable access to these technologies will be crucial, especially for small and marginal farmers, who form a significant section of the farming community.
Rasool said the high cost of advanced machinery could prevent individual farmers from adopting such solutions unless appropriate financing and access models are developed.
One possible approach is to make AI-powered equipment, agricultural robots and drones available through custom hiring centres and rental-based services, allowing farmers to use advanced machinery without having to purchase it individually.
He said SKUAST-K, in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), has established custom hiring facilities across districts to improve farmers’ access to agricultural machinery. Similar facilities could be expanded to include intelligent farming equipment and advanced technological solutions.
“Technology must be cost-effective and accessible. If farmers are able to see tangible benefits in terms of productivity, reduced costs and improved resource management, its adoption will become more practical and sustainable,” he said.
Rasool added that the expansion of high-density orchards makes intelligent machinery increasingly important, particularly given the limited availability of labour to manage larger and more intensive cultivation systems.
He emphasised that the future of agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir would depend on integrating farmers’ traditional knowledge with scientific research, digital technologies and practical field-level solutions.
By combining AI-based disease prediction, weather-driven advisories, precision application of agricultural inputs and intelligent machinery, SKUAST-K aims to contribute to a more efficient, sustainable and technology-driven farming system that benefits farmers across the region.
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