News Desk
MUMBAI — In the sprawling fields of Punjab and the sun-scorched plains of Maharashtra, India’s farmers are quietly defying the odds. While climate change unleashes erratic weather—scorching heatwaves, unseasonal rains, and prolonged dry spells—across South Asia, India’s crop yields remain remarkably steady.
The secret? A burgeoning agritech revolution, powered by artificial intelligence, that’s helping Indian agriculture adapt and thrive where others falter. Meanwhile, just across the border, Pakistan’s farms are reeling from a 40 to 60 percent plunge in production of staples like wheat and cotton, a stark reminder of what happens when innovation lags.
India’s agricultural success isn’t accidental. It’s the result of a deliberate push to blend cutting-edge technology with the wisdom of its soil-stained farmers. Take the story of Rakesh Kumar, a wheat farmer in Haryana. Last November, when the region saw barely a drop of rain—an echo of the dry spell gripping Pakistan—Kumar’s fields still hummed with promise.
He credits an AI-powered app called Krishi-Doot, developed by a Hyderabad-based startup, which uses satellite data and weather forecasts to tell him exactly when to sow, irrigate, and fertilize. “I don’t guess anymore,” Kumar says, wiping sweat from his brow. “The phone tells me what the sky won’t.”
This is India’s agritech edge: precision. Across the country, AI tools are analyzing soil health, predicting pest outbreaks, and optimizing water use in real time.
Companies like CropIn and DeHaat are wiring rural India into a digital ecosystem, connecting farmers to markets, affordable inputs, and actionable insights. The government’s backing hasn’t hurt either—subsidies keep urea at 1,000 rupees a bag (about $12), a fraction of the 4,500 rupees Pakistani farmers pay, while free electricity powers irrigation pumps. Add to that assured support prices for crops like wheat—locked in years in advance—and Indian farmers can plan with confidence, not dread.
Contrast that with Pakistan, where farmers like Ahmed Nawaz in Punjab’s cotton belt are left grappling with guesswork. “We plant when we’ve always planted,” Nawaz says, “but the heat comes earlier now, and the rains don’t come at all.”
Cotton yields there have crashed to a third of historic levels, according to Khalid Khokhar of the Farmers’ Association, a collapse blamed on outdated seeds, poor zoning, and a research budget that’s a measly 0.18 percent of agricultural GDP.
India, by comparison, isn’t Brazil—where research gets 1.75 percent of the sector’s GDP—but its investment in agritech startups and public-private partnerships is paying off.
India’s AI-driven approach shines brightest in its response to climate threats. In Tamil Nadu, drones equipped with machine-learning algorithms scout fields for early signs of drought stress, guiding farmers to water-efficient crops like millets over thirsty rice. In Uttar Pradesh, the government’s Kisan e-Mitra chatbot, available in Hindi, answers queries about fertilizer use and market rates round-the-clock. These tools aren’t luxuries; they’re lifelines for a sector that employs nearly half of India’s 1.4 billion people and contributes $600 billion to its economy.
Pakistan’s struggles underscore India’s triumph. Last year, a wheat crisis in Pakistan claimed 24 lives as women queued for subsidized flour amid shortages. This year, a dry spell threatens more misery, with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority warning of drought. Yet India faced similar weather quirks—a rainless November, spiking temperatures—and emerged unscathed.
Why? “We’re not just reacting to climate change,” says Priya Sharma, an agritech entrepreneur in Bengaluru. “We’re staying ahead of it.”
That proactive streak extends to water conservation, a pressing need in a region where rivers like the Indus are strained. India’s farmers are nudged toward crops like early cotton, which sips less water than sugarcane or rice—crops Pakistan still exports, effectively shipping its scarce water abroad. In Gujarat, AI models paired with drip irrigation have slashed water use by 30 percent, boosting yields and incomes. “It’s not about fighting nature,” says farmer Leela Patel. “It’s about working with it.”
India’s agritech boom isn’t flawless. Rural internet gaps and high startup costs mean millions of smallholders still lack access. But the trajectory is clear: while Pakistan’s agricultural growth has slumped from 6 percent last year to a standstill, India’s fields are holding firm.
The lesson for its neighbor—and the world—isn’t just about money or tech. It’s about vision. Pakistan could turn the tide with research, policy reform, and a willingness to learn from India’s playbook. For now, though, India’s farmers are proving that even as the climate buckles, human ingenuity—turbocharged by AI—can keep the harvests coming.
