New farm technology: solar smart machine on trial at Krishi Vigyan Kendra will count pests with a camera, farmers to get outbreak alerts by app and SMS

A smart machine has gone on trial to help farmers decide on spraying by looking at the number of pests instead of spraying pesticide unnecessarily. According to Amar Ujala, the solar-powered machine attracts and traps pests with ultraviolet light, pheromones and sticky traps, and a high-resolution camera fitted in it identifies and counts them. Based on this, farmers will be sent alerts by mobile app and SMS about a likely pest outbreak on crops in the area, so that pesticide is used only as needed. This will also save friendly insects that keep harmful pests in check by eating them and are killed by spraying without identification. According to SK Sharma, in-charge of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, the machine has been installed at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra on trial under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the company ScanNext and the department; if the results are successful, there is a plan to install it across the district. (Source: Amar Ujala)