Synthetic intelligence gives resolution to farmers to cut back agricultural enter and improve productiveness with much less use of assets,” Muhammad Azeem Tariq, Senior Scientific Officer on the Nationwide Agricultural Analysis Centre (NARC) informed WealthPK.
In line with a report by the Agriculture Info Financial institution, AI can help in confronting the humanity’s one of many best upcoming challenges of feeding a further two billion individuals by 2050, because the UN projections document solely 4% of additional land will likely be out there for cultivation.
“Pakistan’s agriculture sector has lengthy been the spine of its financial system, offering livelihoods to thousands and thousands of individuals and contributing considerably to the GDP. Nevertheless, components similar to local weather change, water shortage, and outdated farming practices have challenged the sector’s progress potential. On this state of affairs, AI can reshape the way forward for agriculture,” he mentioned.
“Precision agriculture is on the forefront of this AI-driven revolution. The AI applied sciences are enabling farmers to make data-driven selections and optimize varied facets of their operations.
“For instance, drones outfitted with AI-powered cameras are getting used to watch crop well being. They seize high-resolution pictures of fields, that are then analysed to detect the indicators of ailments, pests, or nutrient deficiencies. So, farmers can take corrective actions promptly, lowering yield loss and chemical utilization.”
“The AI-driven sensors and climate knowledge assist farmers optimize irrigation. Sensible irrigation methods use predictive analytics to find out when and the way a lot water the crops want, saving water and vitality whereas sustaining crop well being,” he added.
“AI additionally performs an important position in connecting farmers to the markets. By means of cell apps and on-line platforms, farmers can entry real-time market info, costs, and demand forecasts, guaranteeing they get honest costs for his or her produce,” he mentioned.
Whereas the potential of AI in agriculture is huge, there are challenges to beat, together with entry to expertise, affordability, and digital literacy amongst farmers, particularly within the rural areas. The federal government, the personal sector, and NGOs ought to work collectively to handle these points and be certain that the advantages of AI are widespread.
Caretaker Federal Minister for Nationwide Meals Safety and Analysis Dr. Kausar Malik mentioned AI is taking part in an important position in reshaping the panorama of agriculture and revolutionizing the farming practices for a extra environment friendly and sustainable future.
In a latest assembly with Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman Greater Training Fee, Dr. Kausar Malik emphasised the necessity for adopting superior farming methods to enhance manufacturing and storage, which can finally result in meals safety within the nation.
The minister sought cooperation from the Greater Training Fee to help the ministry in the usage of AI within the agriculture sector.