AI-based grain quality check in Punjab, Haryana mandis

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 30

Aiming to bring transparency in the time-consuming and subjective method of quality assessment of grains brought to the mandis, the Centre is testing technology to ensure that the process is carried out in a quick manner without any scope for subjectivity or human intervention.

FCI officials say pilot projects were initiated this wheat procurement season in some ‘mandis’ in Punjab and Haryana by a start-up working in developing simple solutions for mandi-level quality checks. “It is a work in progress. They are trying to get all quality refractions measured through machines instead of human analysis. The AI-based software is able to identify the refractions but has not reached acceptable levels of accuracy so far. Based on experience, they are working on improvements in the equipment for further testing during coming paddy procurement season,” they said.

The current quality-testing is a time-consuming process and also has certain levels of subjectivity. “The FCI is working with start-ups for developing a simple and handy testing equipment which can be deployed in mandis operated by government agencies for foodgrain procurement,” they said.

Pilot project

A pilot project was initiated during the wheat procurement season in some ‘mandis’ with an aim to ensure quality assessment of grains in a transparent manner without any scope for subjectivity or human intervention