By Arooj Zulfiqar

ISLAMABAD, July 20: Artificial intelligence is a solution for farmers to increase agricultural productivity with less use of inputs like pesticides and water resources. Pakistan is an agrarian country and agriculture is considered the backbone of the economy.  Pakistan's agricultural potential is vast, and irrigation accounts for the majority of the country's water use.

Talking to WealthPK, Prof Dr. Muhammad Azam Khan, Chairman Department of Horticulture, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, said the university is employing artificial intelligence to boost agricultural productivity.

“We have started this project in the University Research Farm, Koont and the University of Multan (in Punjab province) on trial basis,” he said.

“We chose these two places for artificial intelligence based on climatic characteristics. We have completed the project's major work, and it will be functional this year. We will receive information like climate data and fertilizer application through this facility,” he said.

Dr. Azam said it is a pilot project which will be made accessible to the public after its success.

Artificial intelligence technology helps to collect lots of real-time data to properly manage water resources. 

“When we have to do crop measurements, such as grapes, to determine how much water they need, we adjust our system to supply a particular quantity of water,” he added.

Dr. Azam mentioned that the need for water increases when temperature and evaporation rise at any given time. As a result, the system we are creating automatically increases the water supply based on weather,” he said.

However, if it rains, no water will be needed, and the system will remain closed.

“Artificial intelligence also helps farmers to control insecticides or pesticides. The ability to control weeds is a top priority for farmers and an ongoing challenge as herbicide resistance becomes more commonplace,” he said.

“We use intelligence-based machines to kill weeds, and then we will spray on the specific area where weeds have infested instead of spraying on the whole crop. Till now farmers spray an entire region rather than just the affected one when insects like white fly attacks,” he said.

He further elaborated, “The artificial intelligence-based systems that we are building determine which areas are likely to have white fly attacks by examining the temperature and humidity levels.”

For instance, as the temperature rises in Chakwal, this system will determine that a white fly may attack and will spray automatically on an affected area.

Dr. Azam said the advantage of this approach is that fewer pesticides will be used because only target-based applications will be made, which will lower the farmers' input costs, and reduce pollution as well.

The Planning Commission is funding this pilot project, which is titled "Digital Agriculture".

“This project will take three years to complete, and we have been working on it for the past two years. To date, we have established drip irrigation and spring irrigation systems,” he said.

One advantage of using drones to spray is that it takes less time, and since less manpower is needed, input costs are also reduced. Drones and drip irrigation systems are being used in the potato farming.

“Private companies should step up and invest in this project. They should provide drones to farmers for spray because fewer trained workers are available owing to urbanization,” he said.

Dr. Azam said the government should support the project and provide subsidies so that sensors may be produced locally rather than importing them at higher costs.

Credits: INP-WealthPk