NEWS – GRAMA (Game Theory, Random Processes, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning for Agriculture) aims to improve crop planning and agri-input procurement, enabling farmers to make informed choices and enhance their revenues.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Backing: The project is supported by NABARD and led by Y Narahari, an honorary professor at IISc’s Department of Computer Science and Automation.
• Expert Collaboration: Involves collaboration with experts from the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK.
• Objectives:
• Maximize farmers’ revenue through:
  • Crop planning and recommendations
  • Procurement and market mechanisms
  • Price prediction
• Data Utilization: The project leverages existing data, including:
  • Soil types
  • District-specific crop varieties
  • Demand and yield
  • Historical pricing and seasonal variations
  • Sociocultural factors
• Projected Impact: Researchers estimate a 60% increase in farmers’ income with optimal crop combinations.
• Challenges Identified:
  • Resistance to change among farmers accustomed to specific crop varieties.
  • Need for proper planning and crop diversification.
• Revenue Model: GRAMA’s model assesses how revenue shifts with changes in crop combinations; even a 50% compliance could result in a 10% revenue increase.
• Pilot Projects: Initiated at Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Anekal and Rajaghatta, showcasing initial enthusiasm, though farmers require convincing.
• Mobile App: Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to test the procurement mechanism, providing recommendations on seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides based on:
  • Farmer requirements
  • Weather and soil conditions
  • Cost and quality considerations
• Implementation Needs: Prof. Narahari emphasizes the need for minimizing transportation challenges and optimizing resource utilization.