AI Push for Apple Economy: Jammu Kashmir Sets Up Dedicated Centre at SKUAST-K | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning has been established at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) in June 2024 to drive technology-led transformation in apple orchards and other high-value crops across the Union Territory, officials said.

According to the department, the Centre is working on AI-based disease and pest management, intelligent orchard monitoring systems, autonomous machines for orchard operations, non-destructive internal quality assessment of apples, and smart sensor-integrated fertigation systems.

The Centre has secured financial support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP). It is collaborating with premier institutions including Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI), Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

The government said these collaborations are aimed at strengthening research, innovation, and field-level technology deployment in precision orchard management.

The department stated that ICT-enabled systems and LoRa-based sensor networks are being deployed across different agro-climatic zones of Jammu and Kashmir for real-time orchard monitoring. Algorithm development for sensor-based smart agriculture is currently under process to enable data-driven decision-making at the orchard level.

Work is underway on AI-driven object detection and semantic segmentation models for key apple diseases, including scab, alternaria, and powdery mildew. A pest and disease surveillance dashboard is also being developed to support early detection and timely intervention.

The department informed the House that a patented intelligent targeted pesticide spraying system for high-density orchards has been developed under a DST-funded project. The autonomous sprayer is designed to reduce chemical usage through precision application. Technology transfer to stakeholders is currently in progress.

An AI-based system for non-destructive internal defect detection in apples is under development through a MeitY-funded project. The system aims to assess internal quality without damaging the fruit, which could enhance grading and market value.

Under HADP-17 (Sensor-Based Smart Agriculture), solar-powered fertigation systems integrated with sensor networks are being standardized. The initiative is intended to optimise water and nutrient delivery in orchards through real-time data inputs.

The government said the Centre’s initiatives are aligned with efforts to modernise Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture sector through precision technologies, automation, and AI-enabled decision support systems.