‘AI in farms to strengthen economy’

Agricultural experts have stressed the need for utilising artificial intelligence to boost the productivity of the sector, pointing out that agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy as it accounts for nearly 19% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This sector offers raw materials to major industries including textile and rice processing. Modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the agriculture sector has several applications.

However, our country is lagging behind in this field, said Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA) Vice Chancellor Dr Asif Ali, while speaking to APP. For example, he elaborated, a drone camera flies over a field and takes images of fields within a few minutes. “The images, taken through a drone camera, could easily identify the affected areas of the crop.”

PMAS Arid University, Rawalpindi’s Department of Agricultural Engineering Associate Professor Dr Jehanzeb Masood Cheema said, "We can improve agricultural productivity by applying artificial intelligence."

It could help in proper monitoring of crops, analysis of soil, requirement of soil, targeted use of chemicals, improve harvesting techniques with the help of sensors, yield mapping, traceability for enhancing marketing of agricultural goods, he added.

University of Central Punjab (UCP)’s Department of Computer Science Associate Professor Dr Amjad Iqbal also stressed on the need for joint working of agriculturists and IT experts for ensuring AI technology. In the recent past, he observed, some research had been conducted in sample fields.

“To evaluate pesticide effectiveness, mapping of affected areas of crops was done using drone cameras.”

The images data was analysed and after consultation with agriculture experts, farmers applied some particular pesticides and achieved over 80% success, he further said. Superior University’s Head of Department of Software Engineering Dr Irfan Jafar also supported artificial intelligence in all sectors. He termed artificial intelligence as the basic reason for the development of different developed countries. He urged upon the government to offer a conducive environment and special packages for AI use in the agriculture sector.