AI to transform agriculture, allied sectors: Dr Saharia
Source: Chronicle News Service / Premchand Thongam

Imphal, March 12 2025: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to bring new dimensions to agriculture, horticulture, livestock, and fish farming, benefiting farmers through advanced technology, said Dr Navanath Saharia, an assistant professor at the department of computer science and engineering, Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Manipur.

In an exclusive interview with The People's Chronicle, Dr Saharia elaborated on the role of AI in modern society and its applications across various sectors, including industries, healthcare, education, finance, transportation, customer service, marketing, manufacturing, security, and entertainment.

He explained that AI, in simple terms, assists and simplifies everyday tasks through scientific applications.

Furthermore, AI has the capability to forecast imminent dangers or calamities, providing early warnings that can help mitigate risks.

Regarding agriculture, he highlighted that AI algorithms can analyse satellite images, weather data, and soil conditions to assist farmers in management, planning, and predicting potential production outcomes.

AI-powered tools can provide crucial insights to farmers, helping them make informed decisions from the beginning to the end of the farming cycle, ensuring optimal results.

One of the most significant challenges in agriculture is pest infestation, which causes severe losses to farmers.

AI-driven drones equipped with advanced cameras can analyse crop health, detect pest infestations, identify plant diseases, and assess nutrient deficiencies in crops.

Speaking on the use of AI in pest management and crop monitoring, Dr Sahariya emphasised that AI can help farmers monitor pest outbreaks and diseases more efficiently and apply specific pesticides only where needed.

This precision reduces farming costs and ensures that areas prone to infestation are not overlooked.

Additionally, farmers can use their smartphones to take pictures of affected crops, and AI applications can instantly identify the type of pest or disease, allowing timely intervention.

Addressing concerns over AI replacing human workers and causing job losses, Dr Sahariya acknowledged that AI may impact certain sectors, but at the same time, it will create new employment opportunities in emerging industries.

He emphasised that the focus should be on enhancing human life by leveraging AI technology for better outcomes in the future.

With agriculture and allied sectors involving nearly 60 per cent of Manipur's population, the professor underscored the need for farmers to embrace AI technology.

He pointed out that many individuals are moving away from labour-intensive agricultural work to other sectors, and the increasing threat of pest infestations on crops further highlights the urgency of integrating AI in farming.

He urged farmers to prepare themselves for adopting AI-driven tools to improve productivity, efficiency, and sustainability in agriculture.

(This article is published under the 5th Scientific Journalism Program on 'Artificial Intelligence and Its Usage' of the Public Relations and Media Management (PRMM) Cell, Central Agricultural University, Imphal) .

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