Google Grants $3.3 Million to Wadhwani AI's CottonAce App To Help Cotton Farmers

In a recent announcement on October 31, Google.org, the charitable arm of tech giant Google, has extended a generous grant of $3.3 million to Wadhwani AI to support the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technology aimed at aiding farmers across India. The grant will facilitate the expansion of the CottonAce app, a pioneering AI-driven solution developed by Wadhwani AI. This initiative intends to integrate image-classifying AI technology into the digital systems of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of India, covering a wide range of staple food crops in the country.

The CottonAce app, available in nine Indian languages, empowers farmers with real-time insights and advice on crop resilience and pest management. It offers guidance on the judicious and appropriate use of fertilizers and pesticides. Leveraging Natural Language Processing techniques, the system will provide valuable management advisories for pest and disease control on a national scale. This initiative will enable stakeholders across India's agriculture ecosystem to make data-driven decisions, ultimately preventing crop loss and enhancing overall agricultural productivity.

Wadhwani AI's CEO, Shekar Sivasubramanian, highlighted the objectives of this initiative, stating, "We aim to boost efficiency and production in the Indian agricultural sector using AI." The CottonAce app, which has already been successful in increasing farmers' profits by 20% and reducing pesticide expenses by 25%, will now expand its technology to safeguard essential crops such as rice, wheat, and corn, further benefiting Indian farmers.

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This development comes at a crucial time when the Cotton Association of India anticipates a decline in cotton production, estimating it to be 29.5 million bales for the cropping year 2023-2024. This is the lowest estimate since 2008-2009, largely attributed to factors like El Nino, a reduction in cotton sowing area by 5%, and lower cotton yields due to unfavorable weather conditions. Rajasthan is expected to be the hardest hit, with a decline in yields of over 40%.

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In addition to supporting Wadhwani AI, Google.org has also granted $4 million to the CyberPeace Foundation, a cybersecurity advocacy organization. This grant will be used to develop and execute a nationwide awareness and capacity-building initiative aimed at equipping people with fact-checking techniques and guidelines for responsible online behavior. The initiative will provide resources in over 15 Indian languages through a comprehensive online learning center, reinforcing the importance of online safety and security.

Google.org's continued support for initiatives like these underscores the tech company's commitment to leveraging its resources and technology for the betterment of society, supporting innovations in agriculture and online safety, and promoting responsible use of technology.

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