AI-based Pest Identification and Surveillance System for Farmers

National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) is an initiative of DA&FW, ICAR-NCIPM, ICAR-IASRI, PEAT INC and AI-Wadhwani, leveraging digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (Al), smartphones and web-based tools to automate and speed up the process of providing expert support on pest identification and timely delivery of pest surveillance-based advice to the farmers of the country.

NPSS is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based platform that aims to connect farmers with agricultural researchers to reduce crop losses and enhance production and productivity at the farmer’s field. This is part of a broader strategy to reduce farmers' reliance on pesticide retailers and promote a scientific approach in the management of insect pests. And this is one of the major challenge which hinders production in the farmer’s field.

Thus, it is imperative for different state agencies to provide timely expert support on pest identification to the farmers and regularly monitor the pest population in their fields to advise them on effective and timely pest mitigation measures. Regular wide-area pest surveillance/monitoring is the cornerstone of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), through which epidemic situations can be avoided by detecting damage prior to establishing a higher pest population.

For effective pest management, farmers need timely access to expert support on pest identification and pest surveillance based on expert decisions as advice.

Major decisions that concern the farmers

• Correct pest identification

• Expert advice on “whether and what is the appropriate pest management option based on pest situation in the field”

Solution to the Farmers

NPSS, which comprises two major components: Mobile app and Web portal

• Mobile app possess pest identification capability as well as pest surveillance to provide correct pest management advice to the farmers.

Web portal to generate pest reports in different formats.

Implementation of NPSS will not only assist in minimizing the pest epidemics but will also help in declined crop loss es due to pests with the real data submission by the Government, resources & lead farmers. Moreover, a repository of national pest scenarios will also be available to various central and state agencies for decision-making.