AI Evolution in the World and the Field
What would happen to the world without AI technology? With the rapid growth of AI technology, any sector operating without it today would be left far behind. AI technology has a long history since the late 90s but recent advancements and innovations have propelled it into the mainstream, helping individuals streamline their workloads and devise inventive solutions to challenges. In the same manner, the use of AI in agriculture is evolving to make climate-smart farming easier for farmers. They are now using AI-powered farm tools directly on their mobile phones. This is crucial because climate change is a greater threat to agriculture as it results in reduced soil moisture and crop yields. With the use of AI technologies, we can combat this issue of climate change for a healthy and more sustainable farming environment.
Bridging the Gap with the Super Krishak App
Recognizing the issues farmers are suffering, we are providing AI-based solutions to over 20,000 farmers through our digital application called “Super Krishak”. Access to the latest agricultural advancements can be a challenge to many of the farmers. However, the Super Krishak App bridges this gap, offering farmers a suite of tools to optimize their practices. Features like Krishi Doctor, Krishi China, and Krishak Sanjal provide valuable and precise solutions to common agricultural issues, accurately identifying crop pests and diseases for better farm productivity.
AI-powered Krishi Doctor: Pest/ Disease Identification Made Easy
One of the app’s most impactful features is Krishi Doctor. This AI-powered tool tackles a major pain point for farmers: pest/ disease identification and solution. Launched just six months ago, Krishi Doctor has already established itself as a reliable source of information. With over 65% accuracy in identifying 700+ diseases across 53 scanned crops and approximately 150+ weekly scans, Krishi Doctor proves its effectiveness amongst the farmer community and its scalable impact. Interestingly, tomatoes were the most frequently scanned crop, followed by rice, cauliflower, pepper, and citrus fruits. Farmers are also utilizing this feature in the app to identify diseases in potatoes, apples, cucumbers, eggplants, and maize.
By analyzing the crops, Krishi Doctor offers targeted recommendations for any crop disease. This helps farmers avoid unnecessary spending on pesticides and fertilizers, encouraging organic pest control practices and the use of local products. Additionally, the app allows farmers to easily consult the farmer community about pests and diseases not covered by Krishi Doctor. This AI-powered tool extends its benefits beyond the farm, empowering Agri-extension workers and Agri-technicians through informed and timely diagnosis of crop issues.
Overcoming Challenges to Scale the Impact
While there are challenges from the farmer front regarding ambiguous crop images, we are striving to eradicate the issue by conducting awareness campaigns targeted to educate users on best practices to maximize the technology’s potential. The impact of the Super Krishak App extends beyond just information access. For convenience to Nepali farmers, the Super Krishak App has made things easier by tailoring the App in the Nepali language providing both organic and biological farming methods. In rural areas with limited access to agricultural specialists, the app empowers farmers to take prompt action against crop threats. By promoting the use of digital tools, the Super Krishak App not only broadens farmers’ technical knowledge but also saves them valuable time and money.
Contributed by – Roshani Shrestha, Marketing Assistant