Government of India is accelerating the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make agriculture smarter, more efficient, and technology-driven. Through several AI-powered initiatives launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, farmers are now receiving real-time crop advisories, weather forecasts, pest detection support, and easier access to government schemes. These digital interventions aim to improve farm productivity, reduce crop losses, and strengthen decision-making at the farm level.
To help farmers tackle pest attacks more effectively, the Government has introduced the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS). Powered by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, the platform identifies pest infestations at an early stage, enabling timely advisory and intervention.
Currently, more than 10,000 agricultural extension workers are using the system. Farmers can upload photographs of affected crops or pests to receive identification support and management recommendations. At present, the platform supports 73 crops and can identify 436 different pest species, helping reduce crop damage and improve plant health.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is providing AI-enabled weather and monsoon advisories to assist farmers in making informed agricultural decisions. The system delivers location-specific and timely weather forecasts, helping farmers plan sowing, irrigation, fertilizer application, and other farm operations more efficiently.
According to the Government, the AI-based weather advisory service has already benefited approximately 52.8 million (5.28 crore) farmers across the country.
Government has also developed BharatVistaar (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources), a multilingual AI-powered Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) platform for agriculture.
The platform provides real-time, location-specific agricultural advisories while offering seamless access to government schemes and essential farming services. So far, it has served more than 300,000 farmers and responded to over 7.2 million farmer queries.
Information on 18 Central Government schemes:
The platform is accessible through a web portal, mobile application, AI chatbot, and telephone service, making digital agricultural services more widely available.
Government Investment in Digital Agriculture Continues to Grow:
The Government has significantly increased investments in digital agriculture and AI-enabled initiatives over recent years.
|
Financial Year |
Budget Allocation (₹ Crore) |
Funds Utilized (₹ Crore) |
|
2022–23 |
60.00 |
20.84 |
|
2023–24 |
450.00 |
119.44 |
|
2024–25 |
763.88 |
356.00 |
|
2025–26 |
758.56 |
596.10 |
|
2026–27 |
502.40 |
364.62 |
The increased investment reflects the Government's focus on expanding digital infrastructure and accelerating the adoption of AI technologies in Indian agriculture.
Technical and Financial Support for States:
To encourage wider adoption of digital agriculture, the Government is providing technical assistance, financial support, and human resource capacity to States and Union Territories for implementing AI-enabled agricultural projects.
Capacity-building programmes are also being conducted to improve farmers' digital literacy and ensure that AI-based agricultural services are accessible to all, with special emphasis on small and marginal farmers. These initiatives are expected to promote technology-driven farming, improve productivity, and make agricultural services more accessible across rural India.
(FAQs):
1. What is AI in Agriculture?
AI in Agriculture refers to the use of Artificial Intelligence technologies for crop monitoring, pest detection, weather forecasting, and improving farm productivity.
2. What is the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS)?
NPSS is an AI-powered platform that helps farmers identify pest attacks early by analyzing crop images and providing timely management recommendations.
3. What is BharatVistaar?
BharatVistaar is a multilingual digital agriculture platform that offers crop advisory, weather forecasts, mandi prices, government scheme information, and AI-powered farming support.
4. How many farmers are benefiting from AI weather advisory services?
According to government data, around 52.8 million (5.28 crore) farmers have benefited from AI-enabled weather advisory services.
5. How is the Government promoting AI in Agriculture?
The Government is investing in digital agriculture, providing AI-based advisory platforms, supporting states with technical and financial assistance, and conducting digital literacy programs for farmers.
