Historically, as well as statistically, India has been an agrarian economy. Here, 70% of India’s rural households depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. It is natural for India to look for ways to crunch higher productivity numbers in this sector. However, it is also ironic that agricultural productivity fluctuates while the farmers’ earnings become highly susceptible to even the slightest changes in weather or market conditions.
The push towards digitalization and adoption of technology in agriculture is becoming intense and understandable. The agro sector employs about 50 percent of India’s workforce, so researchers can’t rely on just census data. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) pitched the idea of dedicated satellites for the agro-industry under the Bharat Krishi Satellite Programme. Since then, the Indian geospatial industry has grown enormously and is estimated to grow to over $20 billion by 2025.
Utilizing the geospatial technology for agriculture
India has long envisioned using space technology for national development under the wings of ISRO. Earlier, remote sensing satellites were limited to use in military and space exploration, but they are now also addressing the challenges in agriculture. A report revealed how India’s indigenous Earth-observation satellites helped farmers improve crop yields.
Not just that, the number and insights tapped from these satellites are being made available to farmers to help them make more informed decisions. The data-driven approach leverages smart farming, helping them with activities related to irrigation, generation of critical data, crop forecasting, pesticide application, etc.
Moreover, using satellite images, farmers can track how mechanical fertilizer spreaders can close yield gaps in low-yielding farms. Further, the high-resolution images can develop reliable models for crop yields, soil quality, crop status, water accessibility, yield gaps, and pest outbreaks.
Precision agriculture also uses geospatial satellite data to help Indian farmers tailor their practices to field conditions, optimizing inputs and maximizing yields. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare’s Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro-meteorology and Land based observations (FASAL) initiative further supports this by utilizing space, agrometeorological, and land observations for agricultural forecasting.
Understanding the geospatial Satellite technology, which includes three categories:
- Geographic Information System (GIS) – is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing geographic data.
- Remote Sensing (RS) – obtains information about objects or areas from a distance, typically using satellites or aircraft.
- Global Positioning System (GPS) – is a satellite-based navigation system that provides information about location and time anywhere on Earth.
In February 2021, the Indian government lifted restrictions on the geospatial sector, enabling better crop planning, irrigation methods, and supply chain management through access to extensive data. This move allowed India to develop indigenous apps tailored to local needs, such as those using remote sensing data.
The new guidelines also permitted high-resolution data storage and processing, enhancing the precision of AI models for agricultural risk management. This liberalization has spurred growth in India’s agrotech sector, which now boasts over 450 startups, making every ninth global agrotech startup from India.
India’s geospatial satellite technology is seriously multitasking in:
- Precision Agriculture: Farmers use satellite imagery to apply fertilizers and pesticides precisely where needed, reducing input costs and environmental impact
- Crop Monitoring and Health Assessment: The FASAL (Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agrometeorological, and Land-based observations) initiative uses satellite data to predict crop yields and inform planning decisions – Farmers use satellite imagery to apply fertilizers and pesticides precisely where needed, reducing input costs and environmental impact
- Irrigation Management: Efficient water usage reduces wastage and ensures crops receive adequate hydration, especially in water-scarce regions.
- Disaster Management and Mitigation: Post-disaster, accurate maps assist in distributing relief and rebuilding efforts in affected agricultural areas.
- Supply Chain Optimization – Farmers and distributors use GPS for real-time tracking of shipments, reducing spoilage and enhancing market access
- Climate-Smart Agriculture – By analyzing long-term weather patterns, farmers can adopt strategies to mitigate the effects of climate variability.
Government initiatives and use of satellite data
Integrating Geospatial technology into Indian agriculture transforms the sector by enhancing productivity, sustainability, and resilience against many challenges. India’s mastery of the geospatial ecosystem is supported by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Remote Sensing Application Centres (RSACs), Survey of India (SoI), the National Informatics Centre (NIC), and other departments.
From time to time, initiatives from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to utilize satellite images and data have been helpful in drought assessment and crop forecasting, which includes:
- National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS)
- Coordinated Horticulture Assessment using Management using geoiNformatics (CHAMAN)
- C(K)rop Insurance using Space technology And geoiNformatcs (KISAN)
Further, satellite data aids yield optimization, pest detection, and input reduction. It also has an economic impact, such as the potential for resource savings. With India’s current prowess, its geospatial satellite technology will only grow in the coming years. Thus cultivating agriculture, India’s bedrock at the grassroots level, and its associated technologies.
