From AI-powered crop advisories and digital crop surveys to mechanisation, natural farming and water conservation, government programmes are increasingly using technology to improve farm productivity and resilience

The Government of India is accelerating the digital and technology-led transformation of Indian agriculture, with a focus on improving productivity, reducing cultivation costs, strengthening climate resilience and making farm support systems more transparent.

Recent updates from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare highlight the growing use of satellites, drones, Artificial Intelligence (AI), GIS, remote sensing, IoT, digital farmer IDs and mobile-based crop surveys, alongside continued investments in mechanisation, sustainable agriculture and water management.

Key Highlights

• 10.33 crore+ Farmer IDs generated under AgriStack as of August 6, 2026.
• Digital Crop Survey covered 604 districts and more than 28.5 crore plots during Kharif 2025.
• 5.9 lakh+ farmers have been served by BharatVistaar, with more than 93 lakh queries addressed.
• 2,122 drones distributed/approved under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM).
• 1,094 drones distributed to women Self-Help Groups under Namo Drone Didi.
• Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) is now being implemented across 23 States/UTs.
• 26.18 crore Soil Health Cards have been generated.
• 114.60 lakh hectares brought under micro-irrigation, benefiting around 1 crore farmers.
• Foodgrain production rose to a record 357.73 million tonnes in 2024-25.

AI, Satellites and Digital Data Reshape Crop Monitoring

The government is using satellite imagery, remote sensing and GIS for crop mapping, yield estimation and disaster assessment.

The FASAL programme uses multispectral and Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite data to generate pre-harvest production forecasts for 11 major crops across 20 states. Remote-sensing systems are also being used to monitor drought, floods, soil moisture, vegetation conditions and hailstorm impacts.

The Krishi Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS) integrates satellite, weather, soil, crop, reservoir and groundwater data to support evidence-based agricultural planning. Its applications include crop mapping, crop diversification analysis, disaster monitoring and technology-based yield assessment for crop insurance claims.

Under PMFBY, YES-TECH uses satellite-based models for Gram Panchayat-level yield estimation and is currently being implemented for paddy, wheat and soybean in 12 states.

Digital Crop Surveys Expand

The Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) has expanded from a pilot launched during Kharif 2023-24 in selected districts of 10 states to 23 States/UTs.

The system digitises Crop Cutting Experiments through mobile applications, using geo-tagging, time stamps and photographic evidence. Web dashboards enable real-time monitoring and faster compilation of crop-yield estimates.

This is expected to improve the accuracy and transparency of crop estimates, with implications for procurement planning, crop insurance, food supply management and agricultural logistics.

BharatVistaar and Farmer IDs Build Digital Agriculture Infrastructure

Under the Digital Agriculture Mission, the AgriStack Farmer Registry is being developed as a foundation for delivering farmer-centric services.

More than 10.33 crore Farmer IDs had been generated by August 6, 2026. The system is intended to integrate agricultural services including PM-KISAN, Kisan Credit Card lending and MSP-linked procurement.

Meanwhile, BharatVistaar, an AI-powered multilingual agricultural digital platform, has served more than 5.9 lakh farmers and responded to over 93 lakh queries. It provides information on government schemes, weather, mandi prices, crop and livestock advisories, pest and disease identification and soil-health recommendations.

The National Pest Surveillance System is also using AI and machine learning to identify pest infestations from field photographs. It currently covers 73 crops and 436 pests, with more than 35,565 advisories issued.

Drones and Mechanisation Gain Ground

Agricultural mechanisation is being promoted through SMAM, which provides financial assistance for farm machinery, Custom Hiring Centres, Farm Machinery Banks, demonstrations and training.

Drone adoption is also receiving government support. As many as 2,122 Kisan Drones have been distributed or approved under SMAM, while 1,094 drones have been distributed to women SHGs under Namo Drone Didi.

The technology is being used for applications such as pesticide and nutrient spraying and the creation of digital agricultural data.

The government is also encouraging private-sector participation, machinery rental platforms and Custom Hiring Centres so that small and marginal farmers can access modern equipment without bearing the full cost of ownership.

Sustainable Farming Remains a Parallel Priority

Technology adoption is being accompanied by programmes aimed at improving soil health, water efficiency and climate resilience.

The government said 114.60 lakh hectares have been brought under micro-irrigation under Per Drop More Crop, benefiting around 100 lakh farmers. Organic farming programmes have also expanded, while the National Mission on Natural Farming has covered 11.81 lakh hectares across 24,031 clusters, benefiting 24.69 lakh farmers.

The government is additionally promoting agroforestry, integrated nutrient management, crop diversification and water conservation.

According to the latest assessment cited by the government, 87.8% of 9,085 groundwater monitoring wells were in the normal category during the pre-monsoon 2026 assessment.

Kharif Crop Area Shows Mixed Trends

As of August 7, 2026, total Kharif crop area stood at 985.89 lakh hectares, compared with 1,003.85 lakh hectares at the corresponding stage in 2025, representing a decline of about 17.96 lakh hectares.

Oilseeds were an exception, with coverage rising by 5.19 lakh hectares over the previous year. Groundnut acreage increased by 3.71 lakh hectares, while soybean remained broadly stable.

Rice acreage was down by 15.90 lakh hectares, while pulses declined by 1.95 lakh hectares and coarse cereals by 4.71 lakh hectares.

Agriculture Mechanisation Policy Focuses on Access

Under SMAM, farmers can receive 40-50% assistance for agricultural machinery. Custom Hiring Centres receive assistance of up to 40% of project cost, while Farm Machinery Banks can receive up to 80%, rising to 95% for eligible projects in the Northeast.

The government is also allowing 100% FDI under the automatic route in agricultural machinery manufacturing, encouraging global equipment manufacturers to establish production facilities in India.

What It Means for Agriculture and Allied Sectors

The latest measures indicate that Indian agriculture is moving towards a data-driven, technology-enabled and service-oriented model. For farmers, the biggest potential gains are improved access to machinery, faster advisories, more accurate crop assessments, targeted government benefits and better risk management.

For the wider food, hospitality and tourism ecosystem, more accurate production forecasting and improved agricultural logistics could eventually support greater predictability in food supplies, farm-to-market connectivity and the availability of key commodities. Sustainable farming and water-efficient production could also become increasingly important for food businesses seeking resilient and traceable supply chains.