In News:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare plans to launch CROPIC, a study to gather crop information using field photographs and AI-based models.

What is CROPIC?

CROPIC stands for Collection of Real Time Observations & Photo of Crops. It is a new initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare aimed at studying crops through photographs and artificial intelligence (AI). The core objective is to monitor crop health and assess mid-season losses using images captured at multiple stages of the crop cycle.

Why is CROPIC significant?

CROPIC plays a pivotal role in modernizing and digitizing crop monitoring under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), India’s flagship crop insurance scheme.

Significance:

• Improved Loss Assessment: Traditional methods of crop loss assessment are time-consuming and subjective. CROPIC introduces AI-based analysis for faster and more objective decision-making.
• Automation of Compensation: It will help automate claim processes, ensuring faster payments to farmers in case of crop failure.
• Rich Crop Signature Database: Repeated field observations will build a valuable dataset of crop images over time, useful for future agricultural planning and risk management.
• Farmer Involvement: By crowdsourcing photographs directly from farmers, CROPIC also encourages their direct participation in data collection.

How will CROPIC work on the ground?

• Data Collection via App:
  • A mobile app developed by the ministry will be used.
  • Farmers and officials will take photos of crops 4–5 times during a crop’s life cycle.
• AI-Based Analysis:
  • Photos will be processed on a cloud-based AI platform.
  • The model will identify crop type, growth stage, health condition, damage, and loss extent.
• Visualization and Monitoring:
  • A web-based dashboard will visualize crop status and damage patterns for stakeholders.
• Use in Insurance Claims:
  • The app will also be used by officials to collect photo evidence for PMFBY claims, helping streamline compensation payouts.

Project Timeline:

• Pilot Phase:
  • Begins with Kharif 2025 and Rabi 2025-26.
  • Will cover at least 50 districts per season, spanning various agro-climatic zones and major crops.
• Full Roll-Out: After initial R&D, nationwide implementation is planned from 2026 onwards.

Funding and Support:

• Funded through the Fund for Innovation and Technology (FIAT) under PMFBY.
• FIAT has a total allocation of ?825 crore for various tech-driven agricultural initiatives.