NPSS App: How Farmers Can Use Their Phones to Identify Crop Pests and Get Scientific Advice

Farmers often have to decide whether crop damage is caused by insects, disease, nutrient problems or weather stress. Misidentifying the problem can lead to unnecessary pesticide spraying and higher cultivation costs. The National Pest Surveillance System, or NPSS, offers a digital route for seeking scientific support.

ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management recently demonstrated the NPSS mobile application and web portal in villages adopted for an ICT-enabled integrated pest management programme. Farmers were encouraged to upload photographs of affected crops and seek scientific recommendations through the platform.

7 Ways Farmers Can Use NPSS

1. Upload a Picture of the Affected Crop

The NPSS mobile application allows farmers to upload images of crops showing pest or disease symptoms. A clear photograph can provide useful information for experts assessing the problem, especially when farmers cannot immediately identify the cause of damage themselves.

Farmers should take photographs in good light and capture the affected plant clearly. When possible, they should photograph the leaves, stem, fruit or other damaged parts separately. Adding information about the crop, location and visible symptoms can also help provide useful context.

2. Get Scientific Recommendations

NPSS is designed to connect pest surveillance with scientific advice. ICAR says the platform can help farmers receive recommendations after affected crop images are submitted, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis and unnecessary chemical use.

The advice should be treated as a decision-support tool rather than a replacement for field-level agricultural expertise. If symptoms remain unclear or damage is severe, farmers should also contact their local Krishi Vigyan Kendra, agriculture officer or plant-health specialist.

3. Identify Pests Before Spraying

A farmer should not automatically spray pesticides whenever insects appear in a field. Some insects are harmless, while others may be beneficial predators that feed on crop pests. NPSS can support identification and help farmers understand whether intervention may actually be required.

ICAR says the system provides information related to pest identification and economic threshold levels. This can help farmers make decisions based on the level of infestation rather than following routine spraying schedules.

4. Use Economic Threshold Levels

Economic threshold levels, or ETLs, help determine when pest populations have reached a level at which control measures may be economically justified. This approach can prevent farmers from spending money on pesticides when pest numbers remain below damaging levels.

Farmers should follow crop-specific recommendations because ETLs vary according to the crop, pest and growing conditions. Digital information becomes more useful when combined with regular field scouting instead of relying only on occasional photographs.

5. Receive Weather-Based Advisories

The ICT-enabled village kiosks established under the ICAR programme can provide weather-based advisories along with pest and disease surveillance information. Weather conditions can influence pest development, disease spread and the timing of control measures.

Farmers can use such information while planning field inspections and crop protection work. Rainfall forecasts, temperature and humidity can affect whether spraying is appropriate, so farmers should check current conditions before applying any crop-protection product.

6. Connect With Agricultural Experts

Digital platforms can shorten the time between a farmer noticing a problem and seeking technical assistance. ICAR says the village kiosks facilitate communication among farmers, KVK scientists and NRIIPM experts, supporting earlier detection of pest outbreaks.

Farmers should still maintain contact with local extension workers because experts may need to inspect the crop directly. Digital photographs are most useful when they form part of a wider pest-management system that combines field observations with scientific advice.

7. Reduce Unnecessary Pesticide Use

One of the main benefits of better pest identification is the possibility of reducing indiscriminate pesticide applications. ICAR says the ICT-based system is intended to support need-based pesticide use and integrated pest management rather than routine chemical spraying.

Reducing unnecessary sprays can lower input costs and reduce exposure of beneficial insects and surrounding ecosystems to pesticides. Farmers should still use approved products at recommended doses when chemical control is required, while following safety instructions during mixing and application.

Digital Tools Need Good Field Information

A smartphone application cannot replace regular crop scouting. Farmers still need to walk through fields, examine plants and monitor changes in pest populations. A photograph taken after severe damage has already spread may be less useful than early reporting when symptoms first appear.

ICAR’s recent programme established ICT-enabled kiosks in Amarapur and Kamuwa villages in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, as village-level information and advisory centres. The kiosks provide multimedia training material, expert advice and mobile-based alerts alongside pest surveillance services.

The programme also introduced farmers to other digital tools, including GIS mapping, drones and predictive models, showing how pest management is increasingly moving towards data-supported decisions. These technologies are most useful when farmers can access timely information and understand how to act on it.

Farmers who have smartphones can explore the NPSS platform, while those without reliable internet access may benefit from village-level kiosks or support from KVKs. Digital agriculture becomes more useful when information reaches farmers in a form they can understand and use during actual crop problems.

The NPSS app gives farmers another way to seek scientific help when pests or unusual crop symptoms appear. Uploading clear photographs, checking recommendations and using economic threshold information can support better decisions. Farmers should combine the technology with field scouting and advice from local agricultural experts.