Any change in the agriculture sector has a strong multiplier effect on the entire economy. Hence, when every single aspect that touches human lives is getting digitised, why should agriculture - the most important occupation known to man - remain unacquainted with the overhaul that digital technology is bringing to the world?
A farmer, despite being such a significant aspect of an economy, is unable to harness the financial benefits from agriculture to its full potential. The inputs may be available, yet the yield does not reach the anticipated mark.
Where is the loophole in the entire process and what are the gaps that need to be filled?
The prime reason behind this imbalance between high crop yield and low productivity returns is the absence of a platform from where farmers can access all the information and financial assistance they need.
Therefore, in order to make available relevant information and services to the farming community and establishing the necessary link between the farmers and the private sector, KS Infosystems introduces 'Smart Agropedia' – a package of digital solutions to all the farmers' queries.
Primarily, the process is initiated with the registration of farmers and the land they own. This information is geographically mapped and updated using the Geographic Information System (GIS).
In the second stage, a sample of the soil is taken to identify the health of the soil. After the soil analysis takes place in the laboratory, a soil health report is generated. This report helps the farmers make accurate decisions regarding the type of crop that can yield maximum output on that soil or the quantity and quality of inputs required in case the farmer wants to grow a certain crop (say banana plantation) on the same land area.
The third stage involves the amount of loan that can be provided to the farmers, depending upon the data of the land that indicates whether or not the farmer meets the eligibility criteria. This prevents frauds and the right amount of financial assistance reaches to the farmers in actual need of monetary help.
Thus, from the verification and validation of documents submitted by the farmers to keeping track of the transaction details of the loans given to them, the 'Smart Agropedia' portal attempts to make a paperless automation system for collecting statistics, maintaining records and digitising agriculture.
