The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched several AI projects including National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS), AI-based monsoon and weather advisory system, and BharatVistaar. These initiatives offer real-time, location-specific agricultural advisories, pest identification, and access to government schemes for over 3 lakh farmers.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has been actively pursuing AI projects as part of the Digital Agriculture Mission. Under this initiative, the Government also supports state-level projects involving modern digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Blockchain Technology, Internet of Things, Robotics, among others. Some key AI initiatives of the government are:
1. National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS): This AI and Machine Learning-driven system is designed to combat crop losses due to climate change by detecting pest infestations. Currently, over 10,000 extension workers are using this tool, which supports 73 crops and 436 pests.
2. AI-based Monsoon and Weather Advisory: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) provides AI-powered monsoon and weather advisories to facilitate informed agricultural decision-making. This initiative has reached approximately 5.28 crore farmers.
3. BharatVistaar (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources): This multilingual AI-powered Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture offers real-time, location-specific agricultural advisories and access to government schemes and agricultural support services. As of now, it has served over 3 lakh farmers and addressed more than 72 lakh farmer queries.
These platforms offer information on 18 Central Government schemes, crop and livestock advisories, weather forecasts, mandi prices, pest and disease identification, soil health-based recommendations, and grievance redressal. The service is available through a web portal, mobile application, AI chatbot, and dedicated telephone line.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
