Artificial Intelligence In Karnataka Agriculture: Enhancing Productivity, Sustainability And Inclusive Rural Transformation

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a transformative force in Karnataka's agricultural sector by enabling precision farming, real-time decision-making and sustainable resource management. Karnataka, where nearly 55 percent of the rural population depends on agriculture and around 58 percent of cultivated land is rainfed, faces persistent structural challenges such as climate variability, pest infestations, soil degradation and low productivity. The integration of artificial intelligence through machine learning, computer vision, Internet of Things (IoT) and satellite-based analytics is addressing these challenges by improving efficiency and reducing uncertainties in agricultural practices. The state's proposed artificial intelligence-enabled agricultural platform for Kharif 2026, developed in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation and Bharat Electronics Limited, aims to provide real-time advisories in Kannada to more than one crore farmers through FRUBIS integration. Empirical evidence from pilot studies conducted across Karnataka indicates yield increases ranging from 15 percent to 25 percent in major crops such as ragi, coffee and coconut. At the same time, these technologies contribute to sustainability by reducing water consumption by approximately 30 to 35 percent and chemical inputs by nearly 40 to 50 percent. This study adopts a PRISMA-ScR-based narrative review of 35 empirical studies conducted between 2018 and 2026, focusing specifically on Karnataka. The findings highlight significant improvements in total factor productivity, environmental sustainability and farmer incomes. However, challenges such as the digital divide, infrastructure limitations, affordability constraints and data privacy concerns continue to hinder widespread adoption. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for policy support, capacity building and inclusive technological diffusion to ensure that artificial intelligence benefits all categories of farmers.