Authors: Dr. Goldi Soni, Reddi Rishitha, Karri AmruthaVarshini
Abstract: The review highlights the significant impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on agriculture, showcasing its ability to enhance efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in response to global food scarcity and a rising population. Key applications of AI include advanced soil, crop, weed, and disease management, facilitated by technologies such as automated irrigation, drones, and data analytics. Despite these advancements, challenges such as uneven distribution of mechanization, the necessity for big data, complexities in soil treatment, pest control issues, and gaps in farmers' technological knowledge hinder widespread adoption. The integration of AI with vertical farming presents a promising solution for urban land and water scarcity by significantly improving crop monitoring and yield predictions through machine learning and IoT technologies. As the agricultural sector faces pressure to increase production by 70% by 2050 amid limited resources and climate change, AI emerges as a crucial element in developing expert systems for crop management and enhancing overall economic efficiency while supporting sustainable farming practices. Nevertheless, significant hurdles remain, including high implementation costs, privacy concerns, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to develop holistic AI applications that consider economic, social, and environmental impacts alongside ethical implications. Overall, AI is positioned as a transformative force that could revolutionize agriculture, addressing core challenges and paving the way for smarter, more sustainable farming methods.