Immersive Simulations for Smart Farming: VR and Digital Twins in Crop Diversification

In India, the drive for agricultural innovation is crucial for both sustainability and economic growth. This study introduces a transformative approach leveraging Virtual Reality (VR), Extended Reality (XR), and digital twin simulations to promote crop diversification, thereby enabling farmers to transition from traditional monoculture practices to more resilient, diversified cropping systems. Central to our methodology is the integration of the DigiAg TwinMat Model, a mathematical framework that synthesizes climate, soil, and market data to inform crop diversification strategies, with the DigiAg DiversiOpt Model, an optimization model based on multi-objective genetic algorithms that maximizes yield diversity and sustainability. These components are operationalized through the DigiAg Diversifier algorithm, which offers a real-time decision support system that empowers farmers with predictive simulations and data-driven insights. Empirical observations suggest that adoption of this integrated digital toolset leads to significant improvements in crop yield diversity, potentially catalyzing a broader transformation in India’s agricultural practices and bolstering the national economy.