New Delhi: The Union government has intensified its digital transformation agenda in the farm sector, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerging as a frontline tool to support farmers and enhance agricultural efficiency. This update came in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today from Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, who outlined how AI-driven systems are now delivering real-time, practical benefits to millions of farmers.
A key pillar of this technology rollout is Kisan e-Mitra, a voice-enabled AI chatbot created to help farmers access information on major government schemes such as PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Fasal Bima Yojana and the Kisan Credit Card. Available in 11 regional languages, the system has handled more than 93 lakh queries so far, managing over 8,000 queries daily. With its expanding capabilities, the tool is quickly becoming a vital digital assistant for farmers seeking immediate, scheme-related guidance.
Another major intervention highlighted by the minister is the National Pest Surveillance System, which uses AI and Machine Learning to detect pest infestations by analysing images uploaded directly from farms. This allows quicker response measures and helps reduce crop losses linked to climate-induced pest outbreaks. More than 10,000 extension workers are using the system, which currently supports 66 crops and 432 pests. Alongside this, AI-backed analytics have been integrated into satellite-based crop mapping to improve crop-weather monitoring.
The minister also pointed to an innovative AI-driven initiative aimed at predicting local monsoon onset for Kharif 2025. Conducted with the Development Innovation Lab-India, the pilot used advanced models including NeuralGCM, ECMWF’s Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS), and 125 years of rainfall data from IMD. The forecasts were tailored to hyper-local conditions to help farmers decide the optimal sowing time. These alerts were disseminated via SMS to 3,88,45,214 farmers across 13 states, in five languages—Hindi, Odia, Marathi, Bangla and Punjabi.
To assess the impact, telephonic surveys were carried out through Kisan Call Centres in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Findings showed that 31% to 52% of farmers adjusted their planting strategies after receiving AI-based monsoon updates. Adjustments included changes in sowing dates, land preparation and even crop or input choices.
In his statement, the minister underscored that these AI initiatives form part of a long-term roadmap to build a smarter, more resilient agricultural ecosystem. The government’s push signals a major shift toward data-driven farming, empowering farmers with timely insights and reducing uncertainty across the agriculture supply chain.