In the rapidly evolving landscape of Indian agriculture, a fascinating experiment is underway that could fundamentally transform how farmers interact with agricultural services and re-imagine agricultural markets that work for the weakest link in the value chain. Unified Agriculture Interface (UAI) is an ambitious experiment to create an open, interoperable network that puts farmers at the centre of the agricultural ecosystem.
A Historical Perspective on Agricultural Networks
The concept of decentralized, peer-to-peer agricultural networks isn't new to India. Historical records collected through a survey of about 2000 villages of the Chengalpattu district during the 1760s and 1770s.the 1770s show how village-level institutions in Tamil Nadu had sophisticated systems for sharing agricultural produce with different stakeholders.
Image Credits: From Dharampal Lectures - Land Use and Taxation in 18th century Chengalpattu Village
This decentralized, village-led approach to resource distribution shows a glimmer of possibility for modern efforts to create digital agricultural networks that are locally managed yet globally connected.
Understanding the UAI Vision
At its core, UAI aims to solve a fundamental challenge in modern agriculture: the fragmentation of agricultural services across multiple platforms and applications. Currently, farmers must navigate numerous apps for different services – from advisory services to marketplace platforms – creating inefficiencies and barriers to access. UAI proposes to break down these silos by creating an interoperable network that allows seamless movement between different agricultural services and platforms.
Key Features and Architecture
The UAI architecture is built on three fundamental elements
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Identity: Representing farmers, land parcels, equipment, and digital infrastructure
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Credentialing: Verification and authentication of various players in the network
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Open Network: A system enabling seamless interactions between different platforms and services
The network is being developed using the Beckn protocol, which provides a standardized language for different platforms to communicate and interact. This ensures that various agricultural services can work together seamlessly while maintaining their individual autonomy.
The Nashik Pilot Project
UAI's practical implementation is beginning with a pilot project in Nashik, Maharashtra. This region was chosen for its mature agricultural ecosystem and openness to technological innovation. The pilot focuses on three initial use cases:
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Agricultural advisory services
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Equipment and machinery rentals
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Aggregation centers, including pack houses and cold storage facilities
The pilot aims to demonstrate how local agricultural communities can benefit from an integrated network of services while maintaining local control and ownership.
Benefits for Stakeholders
For Farmers:
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Single point of access to multiple agricultural services
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Broader choice of service providers
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Ability to rate and review service providers
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Seamless access to both local and national markets
For Service Providers:
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Reduced customer acquisition costs
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Access to a wider farmer base
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Improved service delivery efficiency
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Integration with complementary services
Integration with Existing Networks
UAI is designed to work in conjunction with other agricultural networks and initiatives:
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It can serve as a hyperlocal arm of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
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It integrates with Vistaar for advisory and information services
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It can connect with various government schemes and services
This interconnected approach ensures that local networks can tap into national resources while maintaining their autonomy.
Addressing Key Concerns
During a recent webinar on Unified Agriculture Interface,several important questions were raised:
Data Privacy and Ownership:
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Service providers maintain control over their proprietary data
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The network facilitates data sharing based on agreed-upon terms
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Participants can decide the extent of their integration with the network
Network Management:
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The network will be managed by a coalition of participating partners
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Governance structures will evolve based on pilot learnings
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The focus is on community-led decision making
Standardization:
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The Beckn protocol provides standardized APIs for integration
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Service providers can implement these specifications while maintaining their unique offerings
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The protocol allows for evolution based on user needs
Looking Ahead
The UAI pilot in Nashik is scheduled to go live by December 15, with the initial focus on the three primary use cases. The success of this pilot could pave the way for similar implementations across other agricultural regions in India. The ultimate vision is to create a network of networks that enables farmers to seamlessly access services, markets, and information while maintaining local control and ownership.
As India continues to lead in developing digital public infrastructure, UAI represents a significant step toward creating more efficient, farmer-centric agricultural systems.
Author: Venky Ramachandran is the Mission Director of UAI. He works as an independent agritech consultant, analyst and researcher at Agribusiness Matters