Across twelve blocks in Punjab's Ludhiana district, approximately 4,200 farmers participating in a joint programme by the Punjab Agricultural University and Reliance Jio have recorded yield increases of 35-45 per cent in wheat and paddy crops after deploying 5G-connected soil moisture sensors, automated irrigation systems, and AI-driven crop health monitoring tools.

The technology stack involves sensors embedded in fields that transmit soil composition, moisture, temperature, and nutrient level data via 5G to a cloud platform. The platform's AI layer analyses this data against regional weather patterns and crop development models to generate daily advisory messages sent to farmers on their smartphones.

Gurpreet Singh, 45, who cultivates seven acres of paddy near Khanna, says his water consumption has fallen by 38 per cent — saving him ₹18,000 in electricity costs for pumping — while his yield increased by 290 kilograms per acre. "The app tells me exactly when to irrigate and how much. I used to guess. Now I know."

The programme has attracted study missions from Kenya, Nigeria, and Vietnam, where agricultural conditions share similarities with Indian smallholder farming. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is preparing a documentation framework for replication across 25 high-priority agricultural districts.