How AI aids in agri work
Source: The Sangai Express / Konsam Samita

Imphal, March 26 2025: Even as a hybrid approach combining traditional and modern techniques remains widely used in soil testing across the country, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has now emerged as a powerful tool for promoting sustainable agriculture.

Speaking to The Sangai Express in this regard, scientist (Soil Science) at Indian Council of Agricultural Research Complex for North Eastern Region (ICAR-NEH) Manipur Centre, Dr Tensubam Basanta said that soil testing is crucial in agriculture as it helps determine the soil's nutrient content, pH levels, and contamination.

Soil testing also helps optimize fertilizer use, identify nutrient deficiencies, and promote sustainable agriculture, he continued.

Basanta said that farmers in Manipur and elsewhere still use traditional soil testing methods, but these methods are time-consuming and labour intensive, requiring sample collection, lab testing, and waiting for results.

Saying that modern soil testing methods are also gaining popularity in India, offering accurate analysis using digital tools like portable spectrometers and sensors, the scientist maintained that these modern methods also offer on-site testing through mobile laboratories.

He went on to state that GPS based soil mapping, on the other hand, can create detailed maps of soil health issues.

Despite the benefits, farmers, especially in rural areas, struggle to adopt modern soil testing methods due to limited access to modern equipment, he said and explained that the high cost of modern equipment is another major barrier to farmers adopting modern soil testing methods.

Saying that the emergence of AI has brought a new era in agriculture, he maintained that AI and Machine Learning (ML) are now used to analyse soil data, predict soil health, and provide personalized recommendations to farmers, enabling precision agriculture and sustainable practices.

AI technology is being used in soil testing in India, but its adoption is relatively low, he said and maintained that adopting advanced AI technology will make soil testing faster and help boost agricultural growth.

This article was written as part of the 5th Scientific Journalism Programme on AI and its uses organized by the Public Relations & Media Management (PRMM) Cell of Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal .

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