The SMART-CROP project, Sustainable Monitoring and Real-time Tracking for Crop Resilience and Optimal Practices, has been launched by the State Bank of India’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) division, SBI Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Raichur, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and Agribridge.

Farmers from project locations participated both in person and virtually at the launch ceremony, which took place in Hyderabad today, signifying the initiative’s inclusive and cooperative nature. Supported by the SBI Foundation’s LEAP (Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme), the three-year SMART-CROP project intends to increase the productivity and resilience of more than 8,000 smallholder farmers in Karnataka (Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur) and portions of Telangana (Sangareddy, Vikarabad).

The project will offer real-time crop stress monitoring through the use of state-of-the-art technologies, including satellite imaging, remote sensing, and AI/ML-driven analytics. This will allow farmers to take preventive measures against climate risks, pest and disease outbreaks, and degradation of soil health.

“With the SMART-CROP project, we are taking a prudent step towards providing our farmers with technology-driven solutions that enhance crop resilience, reduce risks, and promote climate-smart practices,” stated Sanjay Prakash, MD, SBI Foundation. Our dedication to creating an ecosystem where innovation empowers farmers and guarantees dignity, security, and hope for those who bear the burden of climate change is demonstrated by this effort.

Ms Divya Devarajan, IAS, CEO, Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), joined the launch and stressed the necessity of farmer-centric innovations to accelerate agricultural success in India.

In order to fully realise the promise of Indian agriculture, partnerships are essential, said Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT. I appreciate the SBI Foundation’s foray into this important field of crop stress, which includes soil health, pest and disease prevention, and climate change. In addition to lowering farm-level risk, it might prevent food losses worth billions of dollars.

Dr Mamta Sharma, Principal Scientist and Lead Pathologist, ICRISAT, and Dr A.G. Sreenivas, Head, Department of Entomology, UAS Raichur, described the project’s focus on farmer-participatory approaches for scaling integrated pest and disease management technologies, digital farmer inclusion for actionable intelligence, and real-time monitoring of pulse crops (pigeonpea and chickpea). The project will also perform socio-economic assessments to measure yield gaps, the impact of early detection methods, and agroecological advantages.

Vishnu Gorantala, co-founder, and Adarsh, partner, of Agribridge, delivered a talk on technological applications and demos that highlighted SMART-CROP’s digital foundation. The SMART-CROP initiative has the potential to significantly advance climate resilience and sustainable agriculture on a global scale. SMART-CROP is a prime example of an inclusive approach as the globe looks for scalable models that ensure agricultural livelihoods in the face of climate unpredictability. It does this by utilising innovation, grassroots learning, and institutional collaboration to the mutual advantage of all stakeholders. Its replicable structure provides a model for other agriculturally dependent countries and is in line with global priorities on food security, rural development, and climate action.