RT team
The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) in Thiruvananthapuram has reached a pivotal achievement in agri-tech with its development of the e-Crop device, a cutting-edge IoT technology for precision farming. This landmark innovation has recently been patented by the Indian Patent Office, underscoring its significance in transforming agricultural methodologies.
Designed to act as an electronic crop simulator, the e-Crop device is a leap forward in modernizing farming techniques. It leverages live data analytics to integrate information on climate conditions, soil moisture, and nutrient levels, offering farmers critical insights for optimizing crop growth. The device employs an advanced crop simulation model to accurately determine the necessary nutrients and water, allowing farmers to make well-informed daily decisions.
The brainchild of Dr. Santhosh Mithra, a leading scientist at ICAR-CTCRI, this device heralds a new age of precision agriculture, marked by greater productivity and environmental sustainability.
Implementations of the e-Crop-based smart farming (e-CBSF) approach have shown encouraging outcomes in various crops, such as cassava and banana, with farmers noting up to a 50% reduction in water and nutrient use alongside increased yields. These improvements stem from the device’s efficient handling of soil and plant variabilities.
e-Crop’s contributions extend beyond farm efficiency to environmental conservation, helping bridge the yield gap and optimizing nutrient utilization to minimize agriculture’s carbon footprint. Its versatility and adaptability to different crops highlight its potential for broad application.
Efforts to enhance and expand e-Crop technology continue, supported by collaborations with the Kerala State Department of Agriculture, ICAR institutes, IIT Palakkad, and others, demonstrating a unified endeavor to advance agricultural practices through innovation.
