AI in Indian Farms: Why CROPIC & Drone Didis Are Game-Changers?

CROPIC: AI’s Role in Farming Revolution
Why in the news?
Last month, the Agriculture Ministry launched CROPIC (Collection of Real-Time Observations & Photos of Crops) under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). It uses AI to analyze field photos, creating a “crop signature directory” to automate damage assessment and compensation.

Key Highlights
How CROPIC Works:
Farmers photograph crops 4-5 times during growth cycles via the CROPIC mobile app.
AI cloud tools analyze these images to detect crop type, growth stage, damage extent, and health risks.
Results feed a dashboard for instant compensation decisions.

Tech & Scale:
Pilot in 50+ districts per season, covering diverse agro-climatic zones and 3 major crops per district.
Funded by FIAT (Fund for Innovation and Technology) with ₹825 crores allocated.

Dual Impact:
Monitors crop stress in real time.
Automates insurance payouts using computer vision, boosting financial resilience.
Prime Minister Modi’s Vision:
“AI will empower agriculture, healthcare, and urban infrastructure.”

PMFBY: The Backbone of CROPIC
Launched in 2016, PMFBY replaced older schemes (NAIS/MNAIS) with “One Nation, One Crop, One Premium”.
Farmer Premiums:
Kharif crops: 2% of insured sum.
Rabi crops: 1.5% of insured sum.
Horticulture: 5% of insured sum.


AI in Agriculture: Beyond CROPIC
India’s tech-driven farming push includes:
Kisan e-Mitra – AI chatbot resolving PM-KISAN queries in 11 languages.
National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) – AI platform connecting farmers to scientists for pest/disease control.
YES-TECH – Remote sensing for yield estimation in 9 states.
WINDS – Hyper-local weather data via 5x denser AWS/ARG networks.
Digital Agriculture Mission – ₹2,817-crore push for AgriStack, soil mapping, and Krishi DSS.
SATHI – Blockchain-style seed traceability portal.


Namo Drone Didis: Women Powering Agri-Tech
Goal: Create 15,000 women-led SHGs as “Drone Didis” (2024–26) to boost farm efficiency.
Perks:
80% subsidy (drones worth ₹10 lakhs for ₹2 lakhs).
Free pilot training to become “Sky Warriors” (Modi’s term).
Impact: Targets 2 crore “Lakhpati Didis” (rural women entrepreneurs).


Why This Matters for Exams
UPSC/SSC: Schemes like CROPIC, PMFBY, and Digital Agriculture Mission feature in GS Paper III (Economy/Technology).
Design Exams (NID/NIFT): Questions on AI’s social impact (e.g., drones in farming) test innovative thinking.
Key Themes:
Tech + Governance: How AI solves real-world issues (farmer distress).
Women Empowerment: Namo Drone Didis as a case study.


Sample Exam Questions
Q: How does CROPIC use AI to assist farmers under PMFBY?
A: It analyzes crowd-sourced crop photos via computer vision to automate damage assessment and insurance payouts.
Q: What is FIAT’s role in agricultural innovation?
A: The Fund for Innovation and Technology finances AI projects like CROPIC with ₹825 crores.
Q: Name one initiative using AI for pest control in India.
A: NPSS (National Pest Surveillance System) provides real-time advisories via AI/ML.
Q: How does Namo Drone Didi empower rural women?
A: It offers 80% subsidies on drones and training, enabling SHGs to offer farm services and earn ₹1+ lakh annually.
Q: What distinguishes PMFBY from previous crop insurance schemes?
A: PMFBY follows “One Nation, One Crop, One Premium” and covers tenant/sharecropper farmers.