Syngenta chief information and digital officer Feroz Sheikh
Global agtech company Syngenta’s digital platform, Cropwise, plans to bring 100 million hectares under its fold by 2030 from the current 78 million hectares, according to Feroz Sheikh, Chief Information and Digital Officer, Syngenta Group.
The digital platform, launched a year-and-a-half ago, aims to help farmers worldwide, including in India, by providing insights and recommendations to increase crop yields.
The platform has been customised for Indian small farmers and helps in selecting seeds and detecting pests like nematodes using AI and satellite imagery.
It is available in various regions such as Brazil and the US. n India, the Cropwise app has 2.8 million downloads, helping farmers identify plant diseases and providing language-based agronomy advice.
Game changer
“The game changer is that the small farmers who might not have had access to expert agronomists can now get answers from an AI in Marathi or in their local languages personalised to their specific farm holding (in the app),” said Sheikh.
Syngenta was the first in the industry to launch drone-based services in India in 2023. Farmers can request drone services via the Cropwise app, he said
Cropwise provides farmers with access to the latest technologies and connects them to local markets. The app has gained significant usage in northern states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, with plans to expand to Andhra Pradesh, he said.
Long-term vision
The long-term vision is to create a unified ecosystem where farmers can access market prices and other essential information without subscription fees.
Syngenta is committed to integrating government initiativessuch as Bharat VISTAAR, the government launched a week ago, he said, adding that the adoption of Cropwise has been rapid.
“Its future integration with government initiatives like Bharat Vistaar will depend on the evolution of the agriculture industry in India.” said Sheikh..
The Switzerland-based firm plans to simplify artificial intelligence (AI) for farmers, focusing on soil health and sustainability.
Tech use for agri
Stating there is a huge potential for AI in agriculture, particularly for smallholder markets, he said machine learning can be tapped for predictions and generative AI for providing expertise in local languages.
Though the adoption of AI is promising, building trust with farmers remains a challenge, said the Syngenta official.
On how the crops input sector is faring currently, Sheikh said the industry is experiencing a turnaround from its challenging phase, such as oversupply, though low commodity prices remain a concern.
On climate change challenges, he said Syngenta is innovating to address these issues. The company is focusing on developing resilient crop varieties and improving root structures to withstand extreme conditions.
Drone yatra
Direct-seeded rice and horticulture crops are in the company’s research pipeline, the Syngenta official said
On Syngenta’s drone yatra, held a couple of years ago, covering 17,000 km and demonstrating demand for drone technology in Indian agriculture, he said the company has since helped establish a franchise model for drone operations.
It has provided training on over 2.5 lakh hectares and set up training centres for drone pilots.
Sheikh said recent initiatives of the Indian and Maharashtra governments, such as Bharat VISTAAR, Mahavistar and Maha AgX, aiming to make AI and technology more accessible to farmers, will revolutionise data sharing in the agriculture sector.
Published on March 3, 2026