Artificial Intelligence (AI), is no longer an emerging trend, but a game-changer for India’s agriculture and healthcare sectors, unlocking new frontiers in efficiency, accessibility, and economic growth, according to a new report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
The report titled ‘Unlocking AI’s Potential in India: Transforming Agriculture and Healthcare’, explores how AI-driven innovation can address critical challenges in food security, healthcare access, and resource optimisation.
With 85 per cent of Indian farmers managing small landholdings and over half relying on rainfall, AI adoption can drive precision farming, reduce crop losses, and boost productivity. The report said that AI-powered crop monitoring and disease detection can increase farm productivity by up to 8 per cent, reducing losses and improving yield quality
Also, the AI-driven post-harvest solutions optimize logistics and market access, cutting spoilage and increasing farmer profits—boosting productivity by seven per cent, while the AI-enabled precision farming reduces water and fertilizer usage by 28 per cent, making Indian agriculture more sustainable and cost-efficient.
“AI is transforming India with its innovative solutions revolutionizing industries across sectors, especially healthcare and agriculture. In healthcare, for instance, AI is reshaping India’s healthcare by making diagnostics smarter, treatment faster, and care more accessible,” said Sidharth Madaan, Managing Director and Partner at BCG.
5 enablers
“We’re at an inflection point where AI can fundamentally rewire how agriculture works in India—from boosting yields to reducing inefficiencies across the value chain. This is not just a tech leap—it’s an economic one. But will require concerted public-private-philanthropic partnerships to ensure fit-for-context solutions and facilitated adoption at the last-mile”, said Aparna Bijapurkar, Managing Director and Partner at BCG.
The report outlines five key enablers that are essential for AI’s large-scale impact such as 1. Robust AI and data infrastructure – National AI datasets for healthcare and agriculture to enhance predictive capabilities; AI talent development – Upskilling farmers and healthcare professionals in AI tools for seamless integration; Ethical AI Governance – Implementing responsible AI policies for data security and equitable access; Public-Private Partnerships – Encouraging innovation through collaborations between startups, industry leaders, and policymakers; Scalable AI Pilots – Supported AI trials in agriculture and healthcare to refine and accelerate adoption.
Published on April 3, 2025
