AI to revamp Agricultural Extension

Tanzila Rahman, UAO, Ramu.

Tanzila Rahman and Prof. M Zahidul Haque

IT is presumed that AI or Artificial Intelligence in the near future will cause laziness in humans, job-displacement and give birth to ethical concern, security risks from hacking privacy plus a lack of human-like creativity and empathy. As per a prediction, AI will replace 16% Americans by the end of the decade.

University Faculties have already expressed their concern about the extensive use of AI in writing academic papers and dissertations. As a result, the tendency of plagiarism is increasing.

Prof. M Zahidul Haque

Let us have a look at what exactly AI is and how it’s impacting upon our busines es and professional lives. Well, in a simple language, AI or Artificial Intelligence is the ability of a computer or robot controlled by a computer to do tasks like the humans without diminishing the power of human intelligence and discernment. AI of course designed by human, uses computers and machines to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making competence of the human mind. AI algorithms can quickly and accurately analyze vast amount of data to personalize products, services and experiences. An example of AI is, ‘Face Recognition’ – face and voice recognition is the most widely used AI technology in business today. Other examples include Chatbots, Self-driving car, digital assistants, etc.

Any technology has both good sides and bad sides but AI or Artificial Intelligence is considered as neutral—it depends on the users—how they use it. There is a great scope for application of AI for the wellbeing of the humankind.

AI is becoming increasingly essential in our daily lives. AI is now successfully used in so many areas like medical, business, education, law, manufacturing, etc. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has application in Agriculture too. AI assists the Agricultural Extension Service towards raising productivity and ensuring sustainable agriculture. AI is used to monitor and predict agricultural conditions, such as, land quality, groundwater, crop health, plant diseases detection etc. AI’s ability to process vast datasets enables informed decisions on various matters of agriculture like irrigation, fertilization, pest control, reducing environmental impact.

Agricultural Extension also known as Agricultural Advisory Service plays a crucial role in supporting 570 million small-scale farmers worldwide, contributing to food security and rural development through dissemination of agriculture related information including technical advice and best practices.

Earlier, Agricultural Extension was known as the application of scientific knowledge and technologies to improve agricultural practices through imparting extension education. But now, the field of agricultural extension has expanded to a wider range of communication and learning theories and practices for raising productivity, protecting health and environment, accelerating sustainable agricultural and rural development. Agricultural Extension has a huge job to do for which a large number of extension workers are needed. But in reality, extension worker to farmer ratio in most countries of the world particularly in developing countries is far too less than the recommended ratio of 1:200 or 1:500. In Bangladesh the extension workers to farmers ratio is 900-2000 farm families while in India, it is 1: 400 to 1:1000 depending on the type of areas—hilly, irrigated and rain fed areas.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), as assumed, may take away job of certain percent of workers/ employees in some fields but in the field of Agricultural Extension, AI will not displace any extension worker but will boost knowledge and skill turning them into more productive extension force. If we wish to increase the number of extension worker to bridge the extension worker to farmer ratio gap, it would require a huge investment. On the other hand, if the extension worker could be made AI literate through providing proper training, each and every extension worker will gather more strength and efficiency to perform their duties much quickly and efficiently at less cost and time. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Languages Learning Models (LLMs) have the capability to quickly and cost-effectively identify relevant information filter key points and present them in accessible languages to both farmers and extension workers. For instance, AI tool Acceco’s ExtensionBot has the potential to directly meet farmer’s information need by addressing farmer’s question and lessens work-loads of extension workers. This will help each extension worker to deliver services more efficiently by strategically combining AI and in-person reaching greater number of farmers in the same settings.

Following AI’s first application in 1985, many countries of the world including the United States, Australia, and Brazil adopted AI in agriculture sector to providing farmers with real-time data about their crops. Monitoring crops and managing resources together with predicting yields and optimum time of harvest.

In Bangladesh, adoption of AI in Agricultural Extension is getting momentum. Bangladesh being the World’s most densely populated country needs to increase its food production to feed the huge population. As Bangladesh’s economy is agriculture dependent where agri-sector contributes 11.22% to GDP plus ensures food security for 172,954,319 people. Bangladesh needs to adopt AI with precision agriculture for boosting agricultural production and for developing its rural economy. It may be mentioned here that an AI powered tool –‘Dr, Chashi’ in Bangladesh has so far assisted over 10,000 farmers to combat crop diseases and appropriate use of pesticides. The Department of Agriculture Extension is also working to incorporate AI into their extension service. In fact, AI’s integration in agriculture could be a game-changer for sustainable agriculture in Bangladesh.

At present, farmers particularly the smallholder farmers are at the center of hard challenges with complex global issues. At this juncture, Agricultural Extension service must adapt to meet with the farmers’ emerging needs, help them face the new challenges on the way to successful and sustainable agriculture – from food security to carbon sequestration.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has the potential to improve access to agricultural extension services and can bring the important information to all types of farmers including those living in remotest areas plus socially marginalized farmers. Incorporation of AI into Agricultural Extension will also contribute towards achieving the goals of SDG 1-eradicating poverty, SDG 2-ending hunger by achieving food security and improved nutrition, SDG 3-access to safe and nutritive food for ensuring healthy lives, SDG 4- reducing inequality through improving food security, SDG 12- tackling over consumption and waste of food.

In a nutshell, AI can contribute significantly in transforming agriculture through designing an effective and up-to-date agricultural extension service. 

(Tanzila Rahman (BCS-Agri) is Upazila Agriculture Officer, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar and Prof. M Zahidul Haque retired Professor and also a former Dean of Faculty of Agriculture at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka.)