Indicative roadmap for operationalizing AI-enabled smart marketplaces The graphic below outlines the essential steps for developing smart marketplaces. Existing e-markets in India, such as e-NAM, could use AI to provide price forecasts and efficiently match sellers with buyers. Additionally, physical market infrastructure (mandis) can be enhanced with AI-driven quality- assaying tools to ensure fair pricing and improve market transparency. TABLE 4 Indicative roadmap for operationalizing AI-enabled smart marketplaces Outputs at end of step Role of government Other critical stakeholders 1 Strategic planning and market-mapping –Expert group –Smart marketplace strategy with priority regions and value chains –Mapping of markets in priority regions –Formulate expert group –Develop a plan for smart marketplaces that prioritizes regions –Consolidate data on existing government post-harvest infrastructure and market prices –Expert group: assess strategy, data needs, priority value chains/regions –Agricultural research institutions: supply information on existing market infrastructure in priority regions 2 Develop AI model for price forecasting and buyer matchmaking –AI-driven models for prediction of market prices –AI-driven models for matching farmers/their collectives with potential buyers –Onboard a technology company to develop AI models for price forecasts and buyer matchmaking –Integrate with existing markets such as e-NAM –AI-model developer: develop price forecast and buyer matchmaking models and integrate with traceability systems –Agricultural research institutions: provide technical support to start-ups to enable them to enhance their models –Agricorporates: empanel in buyer/seller matchmaking pilots and provide historic data on demand, prices and volumes –Extension agents and FPOs: support quality adherence and aggregation of produce to meet buyer requirements and last-mile data collection3 Deploy e-market and national traceability system –E-market (either integrated with existing market or new) –National traceability system that maps products from farm to markets –Develop an e-marketplace and integrate price forecasts and buyer matchmaking –Develop a national traceability system for priority crops –Train extension agents for collection of data for feeding traceability systems 4 Deploy quality- assaying infrastructure in priority aggregation points –AI-enabled quality-assaying systems across aggregation points or markets –Provide incentives for deploying AI-enabled quality-assaying infrastructure in mandis and other aggregation points –Agritechs, extension agents and FPOs: deploy quality- assaying hardware across aggregation points –Agricorporates: incentivize high-quality production through price premiums 5 Incentivize demand- driven production –Incentive mechanisms to support farmers transition to demand- driven farming –Develop incentives and working capital finance structures to support farmers in transitioning to demand-driven crop production –Agritechs, extensions: ensure aggregation of produce –Agricultural research institutions: develop package of practices and customized recommendations –Agricorporates: invest in supply chains to ensure quality standards are met by producers Future Farming in India 26

Future Farming in India 2025