The AI ​​revolution in Asian agriculture.

Agriculture has evolved over ten thousand years, and farmers have continuously sought ways to increase productivity and improve production efficiency. Now, they can benefit from one of the biggest innovations in decades, as artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being applied to farms around the world.

Indian farmers use smartphones to gather information about their crops. Photo | WEF

Jobs that are "dirty, difficult, and dangerous"

Asia is on track to become one of the fastest-aging regions in the world . In countries like Japan, the population is aging rapidly and the workforce is shrinking. Japan's current population is approximately 124 million, projected to decline by 30% by 2070, according to the latest estimates from the National Institute for Social Security and Population Research in April 2023.

Innovators in agriculture are actively addressing challenges, focusing on labor shortages and heritage-based innovation. Takanori Fukao, a professor of robotics at the University of Tokyo, predicts a future of farms strategically maximizing the efficiency of robots.

According to the Japan Times, farmers in Saitama Prefecture have been using four-wheeled AI-powered robots to selectively harvest ripe cucumbers. Developed by the startup Agrist Inc., the robots use cameras to assess cucumber size and AI to determine the optimal harvesting time. Every two minutes, the robots cut one to three cucumbers and place them in boxes. The robots demonstrate precision in positioning their arms relative to the cucumbers and plants, ensuring the stems are not damaged during harvesting. Japan's investment in smart agriculture isn't limited to domestic use. Inaho Inc. has leased AI-powered robots capable of picking cherry tomatoes to a farm in the Netherlands. The technology of selecting ripe tomatoes for harvesting demonstrates a delicate balance between machine precision and crop handling.

In Malaysia, Mimos Berhad, a government agency, has partnered with Ancom Nylex Berhad and the German company Helm AG to introduce precision farming platforms to farmers. This initiative gives farmers free access to satellite data and AI technology, enabling them to monitor crops and improve yields effectively.

According to the People's Daily, one of the key projects in Malaysia's AI roadmap for 2021-2025 is the development of automated robots for harvesting oil palm. Malaysia is one of the world's largest exporters of vegetable oil. Siva Kumar Balasundram, Associate Professor of Precision Agriculture at Universiti Putra Malaysia, said AI could address the labor shortage in the farming industry, as robots can be programmed to perform “dirty, difficult, and dangerous” tasks. “We can put all this information into an AI processing platform and then you perform the task using a robot. That would solve a lot of bottlenecks,” Balasundram added. AI could also ensure the correct use of fertilizers and pesticides, which would not only increase productivity but also reduce costs by minimizing waste in farming.

Increase productivity, reduce costs.

In India, the trend of applying AI in agriculture is beginning to demonstrate its practicality and effectiveness through numerous projects. According to information from the World Economic Forum, the government of Telangana state in South India, in collaboration with several agricultural support organizations and technology companies, has launched a groundbreaking project called Saagu Baagu. This initiative focuses on supporting 7,000 chili farmers with AI-based solutions, marking a significant step in integrating emerging technologies into agriculture. A key element of this initiative is the WhatsApp chatbot, developed in collaboration with Digital Green and open-source developer Glific. This Telugu-language chatbot provides farmers with timely recommendations tailored to the different stages of crop growth.

KrishiTantra, an agricultural technology startup, has established local soil testing centers equipped with machine learning technology. This innovation has accelerated the soil testing process, providing farmers with insights into soil health and fertilizer recommendations. Another AI startup, AgNext, has introduced a computer vision system to assess chili quality directly in the field, allowing farmers to identify defects and evaluate chili quality based on color, shape, and size, thereby enhancing crop value and minimizing waste.

The deployment of AI tools in a pilot program lasting three consecutive seasons (18 months) yielded remarkable results. Farmers witnessed a 21% increase in crop growth per acre (approximately 4,000 ^m² ), along with a 9% reduction in pesticide use, a 5% reduction in fertilizer use, and an 8% increase in selling prices. The Telangana government has expanded the program to 500,000 farmers and several other crop types.

The impact of AI on agriculture is becoming increasingly profound, revolutionizing traditional farming methods globally. AI-based technologies offer solutions to many challenges faced by farmers, such as optimizing planting schedules, monitoring crop health, predicting pest and disease infestations, and improving yield predictions. These advances not only increase crop yields but also contribute to sustainable farming practices by reducing the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Similar initiatives are being implemented in many places. For example, in Andhra Pradesh, India, a collaboration between ICRISAT and Microsoft has provided farmers with AI-driven planting recommendation messages, resulting in a 30% increase in crop yields. Additionally, Microsoft's partnership with United Phosphorous in India has led to the creation of the Pest Risk Prediction API, which uses AI to predict pest outbreaks and reduce crop failures. In Karnataka, the government is using AI to forecast agricultural commodity prices, helping farmers make more informed decisions.

Preserving and promoting traditional strengths

As the world's leading rice exporter, Thailand has been applying AI in agriculture to leverage its strengths. According to the Bangkok Post, Phuvin Kongsawat, CEO and co-founder of the tech startup Easy Rice Digital Technology, has provided AI-powered solutions to “address the weaknesses of the rice industry: the mixing of rice varieties and the inaccuracy of rice testing,” he said. Phuvin's research shows that manually testing rice samples to determine variety, quality, and moisture content is extremely time-consuming.

Mr. Phuvin Kongsawat, CEO of Easy Rice. Photo | Bangkokpost

Easy Rice has launched two special services. The first is an AI-powered scanning technology-based quality inspection solution, reducing inspection time to 3-5 minutes per 25g of rice, compared to 15-20 minutes with conventional methods. This advanced technology also reduces costs by approximately 30%, while ensuring the rice samples meet all 25 Thai rice standards. The second service is an AI-designed tool for inspecting rice varieties, targeting farmers and cooperatives supplying rice to millers. This service has a comprehensive seed database encompassing up to 84 varieties. Guaranteed to be 95% accurate, Easy Rice's AI inspection process is ten times faster than traditional methods and saves over 160 million baht in annual rejection costs.

Since its establishment in 2019, the company has attracted a large customer base including over 200 exporters and more than 20,000 farmers. Mr. Phuvin said the company is also expanding its operations into Vietnam and developing similar technology that can test durian and coffee plants.

Easy Rice is an example of how Southeast Asian countries are using AI to transform agriculture, aiming to build an efficient, sustainable, and climate-friendly agricultural sector. The region is not only home to major agricultural exporters like Thailand and Vietnam, but also boasts a population of over 600 million and a growing demand for food. The Thai government is currently subsidizing farmers to use drones for applying fertilizers and pesticides. In Vietnam, a smartphone-controlled automated irrigation system has been piloted to allow farmers to proactively manage their household irrigation.

The International Rice Research Institute, based in the Philippines, is also using a $2 million grant from Google.org to utilize AI to evaluate its rice gene bank. This could accelerate the development of high-yielding, climate-adaptive varieties.

Minh An

Source: https://nhandan.vn/cach-revolution-ai-in-asia-agriculture-post805920.html