Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has called for greater adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and drone-based technologies in agriculture, saying these tools can significantly improve farm efficiency, reduce input costs and make farming more sustainable. He described AI-driven agriculture as a transformative step that can help farmers manage resources more effectively and increase productivity.

Speaking at an event in Nagpur on Saturday, Gadkari said AI applications could help reduce water consumption, optimise fertiliser usage and detect crop diseases at an early stage. He emphasised the need to train farmers in the use of AI and drone technologies so they can benefit from modern agricultural solutions and improve their farming practices.

Gadkari said wider use of technology in agriculture could make the sector more cost-effective and resilient. He highlighted the importance of precision farming methods, which use data and advanced tools to improve decision-making, manage crops efficiently and reduce unnecessary expenditure on agricultural inputs.

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He also spoke about the work being carried out by the Agrovision Foundation, where he serves as chief mentor. The organisation is working to introduce AI-based farming practices among at least 1,000 orange growers and 5,000 sugarcane farmers in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, with the aim of improving crop yields and lowering production costs.

The minister also praised the Agricultural Development Trust and its chairman Rajendra Pawar for promoting the use of technology in farming and animal husbandry. He said the organisation has contributed to farmer training, technical support and the promotion of scientific agricultural practices.

Gadkari urged stakeholders to replicate successful technology-based farming models across Vidarbha and other regions. He said wider adoption of modern agricultural techniques could help improve farmers’ incomes, strengthen sustainability and prepare the agriculture sector to address future challenges.

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