Farmers and farmer cooperatives Farm producer organizations (FPOs) exist in India, but farm sector leaders are unaware of their potential We have (set up) farmer producer groups, but we still don’t fully understand how AI can help us. We’re missing out on opportunities that could improve efficiency and income for small farmers. If AI could show us how to use data to better manage our resources, negotiate prices and understand market trends, our FPOs would become a lot more efficient, making a bigger difference.Farmers need curated wisdom, not clutter from the internet Today, even if farmers go online looking for advice, they are almost immediately inundated with 20–30 different information sources, from YouTube videos to apps from big companies. There is anxiety around which of these sources to trust. Even if they can get over this anxiety and pick a source, they are further restricted by the generic nature of the advice they are going to receive – these platforms can speak in general terms, but farmers need advice that accounts for local circumstances. Goverment policy leaders Yesterday’s successes outweigh tomorrow’s forecasts for India’s farmers Farmers tend to make reactive decisions, often choosing crops based on past successes rather than future forecasts. This approach overlooks crucial factors such as soil health, water availability and market supply variations, leading to inconsistent results and missed opportunities for maximizing profits. If AI could provide forward-looking, data- driven insights, it would shift farmers from reactive to proactive decision-making.Farmers can time sowing, but they can’t time their demand for labour Farmers know the best times to sow their crops, but labour availability remains a major obstacle. With more people migrating to cities, rural areas are facing severe labour shortages, and farmers have little visibility of available labour beyond their own villages or districts. If AI could match farmers with the available labour across regions, it would be a game changer. Future Farming in India 12

Future Farming in India 2025