Vandiperiyar

October 15, 2025

C-DAC, Kolkata, in collaboration with the UPASI Tea Research Foundation (UPASI-TRF) and IIT Kharagpur, organized a Users' Meet cum Awareness Workshop on "AI-Driven Aerial Imaging Solution for Detection of Pest Attack (TMB) in Tea Leaves" at Vandiperiyar Club, Vandiperiyar, Kerala, on October15th, 2025. The workshop was held as part of a collaborative project jointly implemented by C-DAC Kolkata, IIT Kharagpur, and the UPASI Tea Research Foundation, with funding support from the National Tea Research Foundation.

The objective of the project is to develop and deploy an indigenous AI-enabled aerial imaging system for the detection of Tea Mosquito Bug (TMB) infestations in tea plantations. The solution comprises an end-to-end pest monitoring and management system that includes drone-based aerial surveillance, AI/ML-based image analysis, a Decision Support System (DSS), and a mobile application for user navigation.

The aerial images collected by drones are analyzed using the PEST-Track desktop application, which applies AI algorithms to detect, localised and degree of pest infestation. The analysis results are then integrated into the PEST-Track mobile application, which provides GPS-enabled navigation to guide field personnel to the identified locations for inspection and timely intervention.

The workshop witnessed active participation from representatives of several leading tea estates, including AVT, Alampally, Arrakal, Wallarclic, HML, Malankara, Tyford, Penshunst, PeriyarConnamara,Poabs, and AVG, among others. 49 attendees included estate managers, agricultural officers, and technical personnel who engaged in detailed interactions and provided valuable feedback on the usability and scalability of the solution.

A live field demonstration was conducted as part of the workshop, showcasing the complete operational workflow, from drone-based image acquisition to AI-powered analysis, and finally, on-ground location tracking through the mobile app. The demonstration also highlighted the system's capability to support selective pesticide application, enabling targeted treatment, cost reduction, and minimal environmental impact.