New Technology for Farmers: AI-Powered Advisory to Deliver Accurate Farming Guidance and Timely Alerts

In a major step towards promoting innovation in the agricultural sector, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have jointly launched a new AI-based agromet advisory service. This initiative aims to provide timely climate-based information and personalized farming advice to small and marginal farmers.

AI-Powered Advice to Transform Farming Practices:

In response to the growing challenges posed by climate change, ICRISAT, in collaboration with leading national and international institutions, has developed an advanced advisory system powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). This system will help farmers make better decisions on sowing, irrigation, and pest management based on localized weather data. The advice will be real-time and tailored to each farmer’s specific location and crop needs.

Farming Tips Now Available via WhatsApp:

The advisory service will be accessible through user-friendly digital platforms.
Farmers will receive crop, soil, and weather-related updates directly on their mobile phones through an AI-enabled WhatsApp bot.
The bot is connected to the Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT), which delivers information in local languages, customized to the farmer’s region and needs.
This service aims to reach even the most remote rural areas, ensuring last-mile delivery of technology and scientific knowledge.

AI-Based Advisory Service to Begin in Maharashtra:

The project is initially being rolled out for smallholder farmers in Maharashtra, with support from ICAR’s Agromet Field Units (AMFUs). Based on its success, the model will be scaled up nationally and shared globally under South-South cooperation frameworks.

Smarter Farming with Upgraded iSAT:

The advisory system is powered by an enhanced version of the Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT), originally developed under Monsoon Mission-II. This tool converts complex climate and agricultural data into actionable insights. Jointly developed by ICRISAT and partner institutions, iSAT aims to deliver precise and personalized farming recommendations.

What Makes iSAT Smarter:

Real-time and actionable advisory using climate science, crop models, and machine learning.
Supports key farming decisions like sowing, irrigation, and pest control.
Accessible through AI-enabled platforms, including a WhatsApp bot for rural and remote users.

Helping Small Farmers Cope with Changing Weather:

Titled "AI-Powered Context-Specific Agromet Advisory Services for Climate-Resilient Agriculture at Scale," this initiative is backed by the Government of India under Monsoon Mission-III. It aims to provide hyper-local and practical weather forecasts to help smallholders build resilience to climate shocks.

Key Features of the Advisory:

Sowing Time Guidance: Recommends the most suitable time for sowing based on soil and weather conditions.
Scientific Irrigation Advice: Suggests when and how much water to use based on rainfall forecasts and soil moisture, helping conserve water and improve yields.
Pest and Disease Management: Detects threats and offers immediate AI-driven solutions to prevent crop loss.
Early Weather Alerts: Timely warnings for rain, storms, hail, or droughts to help farmers protect their crops in advance.

Project Launch and Partner Institutions:

The project was officially launched during an inaugural workshop held on July 29–30, 2025, at ICRISAT, Hyderabad. Key national and international partners include:

ICRISAT:

ICAR – Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA)
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Technical Collaborators:
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)
India Meteorological Department (IMD)
Center of Excellence in AI for Agriculture at IIT Ropar
CSIR – Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO)
Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

Global Reach for Global South:

Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICAR, emphasized that this homegrown technology could benefit other countries in the Global South facing similar climate risks. Through collaboration and innovation, these solutions can be scaled to help millions of farmers with climate-resilient farming and risk mitigation.

Conclusion: This digital initiative marks a significant milestone in integrating technology with agriculture. It will not only empower farmers with timely and scientific advice but also make agriculture more sustainable and climate-resilient in the long run.