The Indian agricultural sector is undergoing a significant transformation driven by advancements in technology, as highlighted by Shri Ramnath Thakur, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in a statement to the Lok Sabha on August 11, 2026. The government's strategic focus is on enhancing agricultural productivity, improving resource utilization, reducing cultivation costs, and fostering climate-resilient farming practices through the widespread integration of modern technologies. Key technological areas being prioritized include advanced farm machinery, precision agriculture techniques, drone applications, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, sensors, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and satellite-based solutions.
To facilitate the adoption of these innovative tools, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) as a component of the "Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)". This initiative provides crucial financial assistance to farmers for purchasing agricultural machinery and equipment, establishing Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), High-Tech Hubs, and Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs). Additionally, it supports demonstration, training, testing, and capacity building related to agricultural mechanization, making modern farm machinery accessible and affordable for small and marginal farmers.
The government is also actively promoting the use of agricultural drones for efficient pesticide and nutrient application, which helps in reducing input costs and generating valuable digital agricultural data. Furthermore, the Digital Agriculture Mission is deploying digital public infrastructure, technology-based farmer-centric services, and data-driven decision support systems. Initiatives like the Farmer Registry under AgriStack and the Digital Crop Survey aim to provide plot-level visibility of crops, thereby supporting evidence-based planning for production estimation, procurement, and effective delivery of services. These comprehensive efforts underscore the government's commitment to modernizing Indian agriculture and empowering its farmers through technological innovation.
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