Transforming Rural Livelihoods through Data Science Technologies — an attempt
I am from India. I will be attending UNLEASH Innovation Lab 2017 in Denmark. My expertise and training is on Agriculture, Agricultural Statistics and ICT application in Agriculture. During the founding class of UNLEASH Innovation Lab 2017 in August I am looking forward to learn and contribute in the SDG theme “Food”.
India is a developing country, with second largest population in the world. Being an agrarian economy, more than 50% of the workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied activities. In the era of climate change and volatile market dynamics it is very hard for the small and marginal farmers to make both ends meet. Small and marginal agricultural holdings together, constitute 85% in terms of number of operational holdings and 44% of the operated area in the country. Thus it is obvious that the Indian farmers are in very stress conditions to meet the demand of food supply. India being a sub-continent, the agricultural problems uniquely varies from region to region, due to diversified weather conditions, socio-economic conditions, food habits, etc.
The data science technologies can offer solutions to the problems in agriculture sector. The power of data science has been realized to provide services at intended level of precision. Thus the agriculture sector can get benefit of the available technologies. The penetration of mobile technologies at rural India is phenomenal. Rural youths are being exposed to the digital technologies. It’s the high time to invest and solve the countryside problems with the help of technology.
The benefit of this venture can be immense and will cover three sectors of the society — public, private and personal sectors. The rural individuals can get right information and opportunities at the right time to achieve in their businesses. This enables the goals related to SDGs can be more easily achieved, helping the public sector’s target. The private sector can get access to unexplored countryside business. Hence investment, partnership and cooperation for each sector through a unified platform can really help us to live in a better environment. The bonding can be glued through social networking mediums as per the user choice.
Specifically, my interest is in Agri-business, Nutritious Food Security and Poverty alleviation. The objectives of the algorithms are to help in optimal resource allocation to increase crop productivity by minimizing inputs and enhance harvest quality based on nutrients availability, increase farm income through direct end-consumers connects, and ensure nutritious food security for all.
I am looking forward to learn more from the experts and fellow UNLEASHers, share my thoughts and advance my ideas and invite potential collaboration and investments. I am exciting to join the founding class of UNLEASH Innovation Lab 2017 in Denmark.

