"If agriculture goes wrong, nothing else will have a chance to go right." — Dr. M.S.
Swaminathan
This quote reminds us that agriculture isn’t just an economic activity—it’s the
backbone of a nation’s well-being. Yet, while the world surges ahead with AI, drones,
and data, millions of farmers remain on the margins of this progress.
So here’s the question we want to leave you with—
What if the next big innovator in India isn’t a coder in Bangalore, but a farmer
in rural Nagaland with a smartphone and a vision?
Introduction
Good [morning/afternoon], we are Vanshika and Anushka from Shaheed Bhagat
Singh College, and our project is titled: Empowering Farmers Through Agri-Tech &
Digital Literacy
Our focus is on how agri-tech adoption and digital literacy can uplift farming
communities—especially in the Northeast region—by bridging the rural-urban
digital divide and transforming agriculture into a tech-enabled, sustainable
profession.
1. Purpose
Our project explores ways to empower farmers, especially in the Northeast region,
by promoting agri-tech adoption and digital literacy. We emphasize women’s
empowerment, youth agripreneurship, startups, and government initiatives that are
shaping the future of Indian agriculture.
2. Methodology
• We adopted a qualitative research approach, relying on secondary data from
government reports, case studies, policy papers, and academic journals.
• Our focus regions include Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya—agriculture-heavy
but digitally underserved.
• Due to time constraints, primary data collection was not conducted, but all insights
are drawn from reliable, on-ground sources.
3. Findings
Current Situation in the Northeast Farming Sector
• Over 70% of the population in the Northeast depends on agriculture, but 85% are
small/marginal farmers (owning less than 1 hectare).
• Farming remains largely traditional, with low mechanization and limited market
access.
• Internet penetration is just 37% in rural Northeast (TRAI, 2023), limiting access to
digital tools and platforms.
• Farmers lack real-time updates on weather, crop pricing, pest control, and
advisories, which directly affects productivity.
Women and Youth as Change Agents
• Women contribute to 80% of farm work, yet only 2% own land and have limited
access to credit and technology (FAO, 2022).
• A study across 7 districts revealed that only 31.76% of rural women own
smartphones—most rely on male relatives' devices.
• Youth are digitally literate but often migrate due to lack of local income
opportunities.
• The ICAR-ARYA scheme has trained over 5,000 youth in poultry, mushroom
farming, floriculture, and food processing.
• Participants saw income boosts from ₹61,000 to ₹4.6 lakhs annually and a 37%
reduction in migration.
Rise of Agripreneurship
• India’s agritech market is worth $24 billion, but only 1% has been tapped
(NABARD, 2023).
• Farmers are gradually transforming into agripreneurs—leveraging AI tools,
precision farming, and direct-to-consumer platforms.
• Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and youth-led startups are driving value
addition, packaging, and online agri-commerce in rural belts.
Government Initiatives
• Digital India – Enhances rural connectivity by deploying broadband, digital kiosks,
and tech infrastructure to bridge the rural-urban gap.
• Startup India – Provides seed funding, tax incentives, and incubator support to
agri-based startups and young agripreneurs.
• AgriStack – A centralized digital farmer database enabling targeted delivery of
services like credit, insurance, and advisories.
• eNAM (National Agriculture Market) – Unites 1,000+ mandis on one digital
platform, allowing better price discovery and reducing dependence on middlemen.
• PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) – Promotes micro-irrigation systems for
water efficiency and increased yields.
• Kisan Credit Card (KCC) – Facilitates easy access to credit at subsidized interest for
purchasing seeds, fertilizers, and equipment.
• Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana – Aims at empowering women farmers
through capacity building, SHGs, and leadership training.
• ICAR-ARYA – Equips rural youth with skills, mentorship, and enterprise models to
retain them in agriculture.
Top Agri-Tech Startups Making a Difference
• DeHaat – Supports 1.8M+ farmers with access to agri-inputs, AI-powered crop
advisory, and market linkages.
• Ninjacart – Enables direct farm-to-retail connections, resulting in a 30% reduction
in post-harvest losses.
• CropIn – Operates on 13M acres, using AI and IoT to deliver smart farming
solutions to agribusinesses and farmers.
• EM3 Agri-Services – Offers a “Farm-as-a-Service” model where small farmers rent
tractors and machines on-demand.
• Agrowave – Streamlines cold-chain logistics and aggregation for perishable
produce, empowering remote farmers with market access.
4. Recommendations
• Launch local-language digital literacy programs using mobile-first, visual content
for ease of understanding.
• Improve rural internet infrastructure via public Wi-Fi hotspots, solar-powered
digital kiosks, and affordable smartphones.
• Scale “Uber for Tractors” models through partnerships between startups and
government under the Farm-as-a-Service framework.
• Establish agripreneur incubation centers in every block, in collaboration with
KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) and local colleges.
• Provide exclusive funding, land rights, and official recognition to women-led FPOs
and rural startups.
• Encourage AI, drone farming, and blockchain-based traceability by promoting
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) across districts.
5. Conclusion
Only 2.3% of Indian youth are formally skilled—compared to 75% in Germany. This
makes rural skilling and digital inclusion not just a development goal, but a national
priority.
The foundation—through startups, schemes, and rural talent—is already in place.
What’s now required is training, awareness, and accessibility.
Because the farmer of tomorrow is not just a cultivator—they are a data-driven,
tech-enabled agripreneur.
And that future isn’t distant. It’s already taking root.
