Smart farming solutions in India: Exploring agritech service delivery models

Abstract

Smallholders play a critical role in driving agricultural productivity and ensuring food security. Agritech Smart farming solutions have the potential for improving the lives of smallholders by enhancing access to quality inputs, markets, and information, while also reducing risks and providing a range of other valuable products and services. The Digital Agriculture Mission of the Government of India is envisioned as a comprehensive umbrella program aimed at supporting diverse digital agriculture initiatives by Central and State Governments, as well as Academic and Research Institutions. One of the major challenges of the Agritech adoption is the lack of awareness among the majority of small and marginal farmers. Addressing this issue requires prioritizing capacity building, which is essential for achieving the sector's envisioned goals. The primary objective of this paper is to explore the Agritech landscape in India, analyze business delivery models, and identify challenges that need to be addressed. This will help the Agritech sector unlock its potential to support smallholder farmers in enhancing farm productivity and contributing to sustainable and profitable agrifood systems. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of agritech smart farming solutions in agriculture and provides valuable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers engaged in this field.