Initiatives of ILRI for Digitalization in Agriculture: Transforming the Future of Farming
Devika Mehrotra
Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd.
Address for correspondence: devikamehrotra11@gmail.com
The agricultural sector is undergoing a digital revolution, with advanced technologies enhancing productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. From precision farming to automated monitoring systems, digitalization is reshaping how farmers manage their resources and market their products. Digitalization is revolutionizing the way industries operate, businesses function, and societies interact. It refers to the integration of digital technologies into everyday processes, enabling automation, data-driven decision-making, and seamless connectivity. From artificial intelligence and cloud computing to the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain, digitalization is driving efficiency, innovation, and economic growth across various sectors.
One of the most significant innovations in agriculture is the use of smart sensors and IoT devices to monitor soil health, weather patterns, crop growth, and livestock conditions in real-time. Drones and satellite imagery provide valuable insights into crop performance, enabling farmers to optimize irrigation, pest control, and nutrient application. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning play a crucial role in analyzing vast amounts of data collected from farms, helping in disease detection, yield prediction, and precision farming techniques.
Digital soil mapping (DSM) is another groundbreaking advancement that is transforming agricultural marketing through digitalization. DSM uses geo-referenced databases, machine learning algorithms, and spatial modeling techniques like random forests to create high-resolution soil maps. Also known as predictive soil mapping, DSM integrates satellite imagery, remote sensing, and ground-based soil surveys to classify soils into distinct mapping units. Projects like Mapping Kapiti’s Soils highlight how GIS layers and predictive modeling enable farmers to optimize crop selection, fertilizer application, and irrigation strategies, improving both productivity and sustainability. In agricultural marketing, DSM enhances digital platforms where buyers and sellers can assess soil quality before investing in land or agricultural inputs. Agri-tech startups and e-commerce platforms utilize soil data to offer customized seed, fertilizer, and advisory services based on specific soil characteristics, creating a more efficient and data-driven marketplace. Policymakers and financial institutions also rely on DSM data to develop region-specific agricultural policies, insurance schemes, and credit facilities for farmers. The integration of DSM with digital tools like mobile apps and cloud-based analytics further streamlines farm management, ensuring that stakeholders—from small farmers to large agribusinesses—benefit from precise, location-based insights.
Figure 1 Soil Sampling
Another major digital innovation supporting climate resilience in agriculture is KAZNET, a crowdsourcing platform for dynamic climate monitoring in Kenya’s drylands. Developed by ILRI, KAZNET collects real-time data from approximately 400 livestock producer and marketing groups to inform early and anticipatory actions. The platform integrates geofencing, temporal constraints, and community engagement to ensure reliable data collection. Contributors are trained to minimize attrition, and digital incentives encourage participation. KAZNET provides essential rangeland, market, and household data, including vegetation availability, livestock body condition, livestock prices, food commodity prices, and household nutrition indicators such as milk productivity, livestock birth and death rates, and dietary diversity. To ensure accuracy, data validation involves manual checks, front-end validation, and photographic evidence. The information is then disseminated via the KAZNET app, allowing farmers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to make informed decisions. By integrating digital soil mapping, predictive analytics, and climate monitoring platforms like KAZNET, agriculture is becoming more data-driven and resilient. Digitalization is empowering farmers with real-time insights, improving supply chain efficiency, and promoting sustainable land management.
Figure 2 Schematic depiction for database management
With continued advancements, the future of agriculture will be driven by data, automation, and smart decision-making, ensuring a more resilient and productive industry.
References:
Paliwal, A. 2024. Digital soil mapping using machine learning model for Kapiti in Kenya. Presentation, 24 September 2024. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.
Shikuku, K. 2024. KAZNET: Crowdsourcing information for climate resilience in the drylands. Virtual Presentation at LD4D Community Conversation on Digital Innovation for Livestock Development, 1 August 2024. Video. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.
