Karnataka tomato growers to get crop, price forecasts from IBM using AI, ML

To launch pilot in mid-March for tomato, maize

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will soon come to the aid of Karnataka’s tomato growers, who often face volatile price trends.

IBM is developing for the Karnataka Agricultural Prices Commission (KAPC) an advanced price forecasting system — a dashboard that will predict the market price trends for at least a fortnight and the production pattern of tomatoes. This will be launched in mid-March on a pilot basis.

Multivariate analysis

The dashboard, leveraging IBM’s Watson Decision Platform for Agriculture as well as big data, AI and ML, uses satellite imagery and weather data to assess the acreage and monitor crop health on a real time basis. It will be able to detect pest and disease infestations, estimate the tomato output and yield, and also forecast prices. Currently, the output estimates are based mainly on acreage data.