Why is it in the news?

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed between the National Farmers’ Welfare Programme Implementation Society, IndiaAI (Digital India Corporation), and Wadhwani Foundation.
• This collaboration aims to make India a global leader in AI-driven digital agriculture, with the Wadhwani Foundation providing critical support in formulating and executing an AI strategy.

More about the news

• The Ministry is advocating for a network-centric approach using India Digital Ecosystem Architecture (InDEA) 2.0, designed by the Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India.
• InDEA 2.0 is a framework facilitating the design of large IT architectures for both governments and private enterprises, ensuring the seamless delivery of integrated services across organizational boundaries.

AI Technologies under InDEA 2.0:

1) Kisan e-Mitra:

• A chatbot powered by AI that addresses farmers’ inquiries specifically related to the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.
• Accessible in multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Odia, Bangla, and English.

2) National Pest Surveillance System:

• Developed in collaboration with the private sector, this system utilizes AI and Machine Learning (ML) models.
• Its primary purpose is to detect crop issues promptly, providing farmers with timely information to take swift action.
• Aims to enhance crop health, potentially leading to increased yields and improved livelihoods for farmers.