The Maharashtra government's pilot of an AI-powered farming project for 10,000 farmers is a welcome step, but it brings me back to a fundamental point I’ve emphasized since 2020: we must focus on "Selling Farm Laws before selling Farm Crops."
My Perspective: Infrastructure and Trust
I have long argued that simply introducing technology or new laws is insufficient if we don't first address the core fears and infrastructural needs of farmers. My proposal has consistently been about building a bridge of trust through concrete, tangible benefits:
- Incentivizing Infrastructure: I have urged the government to encourage companies entering into contract farming to construct grain storage silos and cold storage rooms directly on the farmer's premises. Allowing these companies to count these costs against their CSR obligations would be a powerful, win-win move Blog - "Selling Farm Laws before selling Farm Crops" / Email - "AGREEMENT WITH KISAN UNIONS ? CONSIDER THESE SUGGESTIONS" - 2023-11-01.
- Transparency through e-NAM: I proposed modifying the existing e-NAM portal to include a dedicated "Contract Farming" section. This would allow for transparent matchmaking between farmers and corporate buyers, with the government ensuring that no contract is signed below the Minimum Support Price (MSP), thereby directly addressing the fears of exploitation Blog - "e-NAM ; reimagined to resolve farmer agitation" - 2020-12-01.
- AI-Driven Productivity: Technology like AI and satellite-based monitoring (like NaVIC) should be used to automatically compute yields, assess input costs, and even trigger Production Linked Incentives (PLI) for increased output. This removes human intervention, middlemen, and ambiguity, putting the power directly into the farmers' hands Blog - "How about introducing a PLI for agricultural produce ?" - 2020-12-01.
Why the Maharashtra AI Pilot Matters
While I applaud this AI initiative, I believe its success depends on whether it addresses the farmer's practical reality. If the AI helps them grow more but does nothing to solve the storage and bargaining power issues, we are only doing half the job.
As I wrote in my earlier reflections, the key to lasting reform is demonstrating that the government and corporate partners are committed to the farmer's long-term prosperity—not just extracting yield. By integrating storage infrastructure and guaranteed pricing floors into these technological pilots, we move from just "selling" an idea to actually delivering a secure and profitable future for the farmer.
Sources
| # | Title | Date | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How about introducing a PLI for agricultural produce ? | 2020-12-01 | My proposal for a Production Linked Incentive to boost farm productivity. |
| 2 | e-NAM ; reimagined to resolve farmer agitation | 2020-12-01 | My plan to make e-NAM a transparent platform for contract farming. |
| 3 | AGREEMENT WITH KISAN UNIONS ? CONSIDER THESE SUGGESTIONS | 2023-11-01 | My argument for CSR-funded cold storage to support contract farming. |
| 4 | Contract Farming : a small beginning ? | 2024-10-01 | My commentary on government efforts in contract farming for pulses. |
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