NEWS – An innovative IT solution designed and developed by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur (UASR) has significantly impacted farmers across the state, providing over 53,000 services in just two months since its launch.

HIGHLIGHTS

Overview of e-SAP

• Electronic Solution against Agricultural Pests (e-SAP):
  • Originally deployed on a pilot basis 12 years ago in the Kalyana Karnataka region.
  • Recently launched by the agriculture department after research and development (R&D) and scaling up efforts.
• Purpose:
  • To accurately identify pests, diseases, and nutritional disorders in crops.
  • To recommend authentic solutions quickly and effectively.

Functionality of e-SAP

• App-Based Mechanism:
  • Field staff use the app during visits to farms to enter:
    • Photographs of the problem.
    • Farmer details.
    • Information about the affected plant part.
  • The app processes this information to identify issues and suggests solutions based on integrated pest management practices.
• Crop Coverage:
  • Currently covers 44 different crops.

Real-Time Guidance

• Identification and Recommendations:
  • Provides solutions such as cultural, physical, or chemical interventions based on real-time data.
  • Farmers receive messages with recommendations directly on their phones.
• Escalation of Complex Cases:
  • Complicated or unfamiliar symptoms are escalated to experts through the app for immediate assistance.

Impact on Field Staff and Farmers

• Field Staff Utilization:
  • 1,748 field staff from various agricultural schemes have provided services to 36,897 farmers in two months.
  • Staff must pass a test and undergo training to access the app.
• Service Statistics:
  • Highest usage in Raichur district (6,356 services) followed by Belagavi (4,430 services).

Performance Metrics

• e-SAP provided on-the-spot suggestions in 62% of cases.
• 1,273 queries were escalated to experts at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), addressing over 900 types of problems.

Expert Involvement

• Content is developed with input from:
  • Entomologists
  • Plant pathologists
  • Soil scientists
  • Agronomists
  • Experts from KVKs

Future Enhancements

• The app operates offline in field conditions.
• Plans to add 10 more crops to the app’s database.
• Horticulture and sericulture departments will soon fully integrate the system.

Benefits of e-SAP

• Provides data on pest attacks’ area, extent, and intensity.
• Aids in quick decision-making for pest management and reduces unnecessary pesticide use.