Drones, AI, Digital Crop Surveys and precision machinery are reshaping farm operations, while BharatVistaar expands AI-based support for farmers

Key Highlights

• More than 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.
• BharatVistaar has served over 5.9 lakh farmers and addressed more than 93 lakh queries.
• Government is promoting drones for pesticide and nutrient application and digital farm data generation.
• AI, IoT, robotics, GIS, satellite technology and automation are increasingly being integrated into agriculture.
• Agricultural machinery access is being expanded through Custom Hiring Centres, Farm Machinery Banks and High-Tech Hubs.

India is accelerating the adoption of technology across agriculture, with the government increasingly combining mechanisation, artificial intelligence, drones, digital farmer databases, satellite imagery and precision farming to improve productivity and reduce cultivation costs.

The latest government update highlights a shift towards a more data-driven agricultural ecosystem, where technology is being used not only on farms but also for crop monitoring, procurement, input planning, logistics and delivery of government services.

AgriStack Farmer IDs cross 10.33 crore

A major component of this transformation is the Digital Agriculture Mission, under which the government is developing digital public infrastructure and farmer-centric services.

The Farmer Registry under AgriStack is designed to provide a foundational database for integrating farmers with schemes and services including PM-KISAN, Kisan Credit Card lending through Jan Samarth and MSP-based procurement systems.

As of August 6, 2026, more than 10.33 crore Farmer IDs had been generated.

The Digital Crop Survey is also providing plot-level information on crops through photographs and geo-tagging. During Kharif 2025, the survey covered 604 districts and more than 28.5 crore plots.

The resulting data can support more accurate crop-area estimation and help governments and businesses plan production, procurement, input supplies and agricultural logistics.

AI platform BharatVistaar expands farmer support

The government is also using AI to provide location-specific agricultural information.

BharatVistaar, a multilingual AI-powered Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture, provides real-time advisories and information on government schemes and agricultural services.

The platform has so far served more than 5.9 lakh farmers and handled over 93 lakh queries.

Its applications demonstrate how AI is moving beyond experimental use towards practical farmer-facing services, particularly for advisories and decision-making.

Drones gain ground in farm operations

Agricultural drones are being promoted under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM).

Financial assistance is available for procurement and demonstrations, with drones being used for applications including pesticide and nutrient spraying and the generation of digital agricultural data.

The wider mechanisation programme also supports:

• Custom Hiring Centres
• High-Tech Hubs
• Farm Machinery Banks
• Agricultural machinery demonstrations
• Testing and certification
• Farmer training and capacity building

This model is particularly relevant for small and marginal farmers, who may find individual ownership of expensive machinery uneconomical.

Precision farming moves beyond machinery

The government’s agricultural technology strategy now extends well beyond conventional farm equipment.

Technologies being integrated into agricultural operations include:

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Robotics
• Sensors
• Remote sensing
• GIS
• Satellite applications
• GNSS
• Automation
• Data analytics
• Precision agriculture

The integration of these technologies is enabling the development of intelligent farm machinery, autonomous equipment, smart farm-management systems and protected cultivation technologies.

Mechanisation targets horticulture as well

Technology adoption is also being expanded into horticulture, where harvesting presents different mechanisation challenges because of variations in fruit maturity, plant architecture, crop characteristics and farm size.

Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), assistance is provided for improved horticultural tools, machinery and equipment.

ICAR and other research institutions are developing crop-specific harvesting technologies designed to improve efficiency while minimising mechanical damage and protecting produce quality.

This could become increasingly important as India expands its horticulture production and seeks to reduce post-harvest losses and labour-intensive operations.

Agriculture becomes increasingly multidisciplinary

The government’s latest approach reflects the growing convergence between agriculture and engineering disciplines.

Agricultural machinery and smart-farming systems increasingly draw upon mechanical and electrical engineering, electronics, automation, instrumentation, computing, robotics, AI, IoT, GNSS and data science.

Research institutions including ICAR and State Agricultural Universities are developing machinery adapted to India’s diverse crops, farm sizes and agro-climatic conditions.

Impact on food, hospitality and tourism

The expansion of agricultural technology could have important downstream implications for India’s hospitality and food sectors.

More predictable food supply: Digital crop mapping and improved production forecasting can help strengthen planning for agricultural procurement and food supply chains.

Lower post-harvest losses: Mechanised harvesting, better logistics data and precision technologies can improve the movement of fruits, vegetables and other perishables from farms to markets.

Farm-to-table opportunities: Technology-enabled farms can support traceability and transparent sourcing, helping hotels and restaurants communicate the provenance of ingredients to consumers.

Agritourism: Smart farms, precision agriculture demonstrations and technology-driven horticulture could become attractions for agritourism and educational farm experiences.

Food processing: Better crop visibility and production estimates can make it easier for processors and hospitality businesses to plan sourcing and reduce supply-chain uncertainty.

Bottom line

India’s agricultural technology strategy is increasingly moving from mechanisation alone to an integrated digital farming ecosystem. With more than 10.33 crore Farmer IDs, large-scale Digital Crop Surveys, AI-powered advisories and growing drone and precision-machinery adoption, technology is becoming a central tool for improving farm productivity, resource efficiency and the resilience of India’s food supply chain.