ICRISAT Launches AI-Powered Climate Advisory to Support Small Farmers

In a landmark move to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other partners, has launched a new AI-powered climate advisory service. The initiative, introduced at a workshop in Hyderabad, aims to empower smallholder farmers with personalised, real-time climate insights, helping them make smarter decisions in the face of climate variability.

AI-Powered Advisory for Farmers

• The project, named “AI-powered Context-Specific Agromet Advisory Services for Climate-Resilient Agriculture at Scale”, is supported by the Government of India’s Monsoon Mission III.
• It uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to provide hyper-local and actionable weather data.
• Advisories will be delivered through user-friendly digital platforms, including an AI-powered WhatsApp bot, ensuring easy access for farmers even in remote rural areas.

Pilot Implementation in Maharashtra

The program will begin in Maharashtra, where ICAR’s Agro-Meteorological Field Units (AMFUs) will distribute these advisories to smallholder farmers. The pilot phase will serve as a testing ground to measure effectiveness and farmers’ response. Insights gained will guide a nationwide rollout and potentially expand as a South-South model, benefiting farmers in other developing nations.

Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture

With unpredictable monsoons and rising climate challenges, the initiative is designed to,

• Reduce crop losses by providing timely weather warnings
• Help farmers plan sowing, irrigation, and harvesting more effectively
• Promote sustainable agriculture practices through data-driven decision-making