Wadhwani AI Empowers Cotton Farmers to Cut Pesticide Use by 20% with AI-Powered Pest Management
Introduction of CottonAce App
As reported by the Business Line, a Mumbai-based nonprofit organization, Wadhwani AI, has come forward to help smallholder cotton farmers and assist them in managing pest infestations effectively. They aim to utilize smartphone technology, which would enable them to provide images of the pests captured in the traps set by the farmers. The AI model is a new one, and would be used to analyze the images and provide an advisory on how much pesticide should be used to minimize its environmental impact.
Impact on Pesticide Usage and Farmer Income
With the use of CottonAce, farmers have benefited in the long run, as studies indicate a 20 percent reduction in pesticide use among adopters. The farmers have also reported a 25 percent reduction in expenses on pesticides and a 20 percent increase in profits. This helps promote sustainability and enhances the cotton-growing environment in the long run.
Expansion to Staple Crops and Government Collaboration
Wadhwani AI also plans to extend pest management to crops such as rice, wheat, and maize. The expansion is backed by a grant of $ 3.3 million from Google.org. The initiative aims to integrate the CottonAce technology into India's National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS), thereby enhancing the impact of management strategies in the country.
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Partnership with Karnataka State Department of Agriculture
To boost agricultural practices, the company is also planning to partner with Karnataka State Department of Agriculture (KSDA). The focus will be on deploying pest warning systems for cotton, maize and chillies. AI will be used for better pest management and farmer welfare in the state.
Wadhwani AI’s approach to pest management is an example of what AI can do in agriculture. Through CottonAce app and strategic partnerships, the company is reducing pesticides and increasing farmer income and contributing to overall sustainable agriculture in India.
