Comparative Study of Machine Learning Algorithms for Feature Extraction and Prediction of Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease in Paddy Fields

Paddy farming plays a critical role in global food security, yet diseases like Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) pose significant threats to crop yield and quality. Early detection and accurate diagnosis are essential for effective disease management. This research study investigates machine learning methods for feature extraction and prediction of BLB in paddy fields. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset of paddy leaf images, several machine learning models including Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest (RF), k-Nearest Neighbours (kNN), and Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) were trained and evaluated. Performance metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score were employed to assess the effectiveness of each model. The comparative analysis discusses the strengths and limitations of each method, focusing on those that demonstrate superior capability in early and accurate detection of BLB. These findings provide valuable insights for agricultural scientists and practitioners to enhance disease management strategies using modern machine learning techniques. By leveraging this knowledge, specialists can optimize interventions and improve agricultural practices to mitigate the impact of diseases like BLB on paddy farming and ensure global food security.