Use of Digital Technologies for Agriculture

Use of Digital Technologies for Agriculture 

4461. SHRI SANJAY BHATIA

          SHRI ASHOK KUMAR YADAV

 

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state :

(a) whether there are more than 1200 Agritech Startups which are using lots of digital technology in the form of data and advice on soil and crops, use of machine learning, artificial intelligence and drones etc. particularly in Darbhanga and Madhubani districts of Bihar;

(b) whether these techniques are definitely going to benefit the farmers and if so, the details thereof in regard to Haryana and Karnal Parliamentary Constituency along with Darbhanga and Madhubani of Bihar;

(c) whether the Government propose to setup agritech startups in the above said regions to provide benefits of the said technologies to the farmers; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

(a)   to (c):  The Government of India,  is committed to the development of Agri-startups in the country. Due to the tremendous support given by the Government of India, the numbers of startups in Agriculture and allied sectors have reached to more than 7000 in 2022-23 from less than 50 before 2014-15.

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from 2018-19 with an objective to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing an incubation ecosystem in the country. So far, a total of 1138 agri startups have been supported under the programme with financial assistance of Rs. 70.30 crores  including the start-ups from State of Bihar and Haryana.

Agri-start-ups supported under the programme are at various stage of implementation from idea to scaling and growth stage. These agri-startups are working in different areas of agriculture & allied sectors such as precision agriculture, farm mechanization, agri logistics & supply chain, waste to wealth, organic farming, animal husbandry, dairy & fisheries, etc. The emerging technologies developed by agri- startups are providing various affordable and innovative solutions in agriculture and allied sectors.

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