AI Climate Advisory India update: ICRISAT and ICAR launch AI-powered iSAT platform to support small farmers with climate-resilient agromet services; pilot begins in Maharashtra.
AI‑Powered Climate Advisory Launched to Aid Small Farmers
Introduction: A New Tool for Climate‑Smart Farming
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‑Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in collaboration with ICAR and other key institutions, has launched the AI‑powered Context‑Specific Agromet Advisory Services for Climate‑Resilient Agriculture at Scale. Officially launched on 29–30 July 2025 in Hyderabad, the initiative supports smallholder farmers by delivering hyper‑local weather and crop advisories using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
How It Works: The iSAT Digital Platform
At the initiative’s centre lies the upgraded Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT), originally piloted during Monsoon Mission II. Now enhanced with AI/ML, iSAT integrates real‑time weather forecasts, satellite data, crop models, and agronomic analytics to generate intelligent recommendations for sowing, irrigation scheduling, pest control, and fertiliser application
Multi‑Partner Consortium Driving Integration
The consortium includes ICRISAT, ICAR‑CRIDA, ILRI, IITM, IMD, IIT Ropar, CSIO, and IISc. These institutions combine meteorological, agronomic, technological, and livestock expertise to ensure scientific precision in advisory content
Pilot Phase Rollout and Access Channels
The project is being piloted in Maharashtra using ICAR’s Agro‑Meteorological Field Units (AMFUs). Advisory content will be disseminated via AI‑enabled WhatsApp bot, IVR systems, mobile apps, and village resource centres to maximise accessibility—especially in remote and low‑connectivity areas
Vision for Scale: National & Global South Expansion
Lessons from the pilot will feed into a planned national rollout and adaptation models for the broader Global South, especially semi‑arid regions. Additionally, the platform is envisioned to contribute foundational data to India’s upcoming MausamGPT, a national climate‑tech initiative designed to integrate LLMs with weather and agronomic data
Impact Potential: Enhancing Farmer Resilience
By delivering personalised, context‑specific advice to over 120 million small and marginal farmers, the initiative aims to mitigate risks from increasing climate variability, boost on‑ground decision‑making, and improve yields and incomes
B) Why This News Is Important
Enhancing Climate Resilience Through Technology
This AI‑based advisory bridges the gap between climate science and field-level farmer needs. With rising climate unpredictability, smallholders in semi‑arid regions face intensified risks. By providing location-specific weather and crop advisories, the initiative supports timely agricultural decision-making and reduces crop failure chances
Strategic Scale-Up Across India and Beyond
Piloted in Maharashtra, the programme is poised for national rollout and adaptation in similar agro‑ecological zones in the Global South. This speaks to India’s leadership in South–South cooperation in climate-smart agriculture
Alignment with Government Initiatives
Supported by India’s Monsoon Mission III, and integrated with the future MausamGPT platform, the advisory system represents a convergence of national climate, agriculture, and digital innovation policies—key areas in policies and governance for civil services exams
Relevance for Exam Aspirants
For candidates preparing for exams like IAS, PSCS, defence, banking, railways, this initiative highlights how data-driven policymaking, public–private partnerships, and digital inclusion strategies serve as practical examples under topics such as Agriculture, Environment & Ecology, Science & Tech, and Sustainable Development.
C) Historical Context: Linking Past Efforts to Today’s Innovation
Evolution of Agrometeorological Advisories in India
Agromet advisories have been part of India’s agricultural strategy for decades. Earlier models offered generic weather alerts. With Monsoon Mission I and II, ICRISAT introduced the iSAT platform to refine weather–crop advisories.
Role of Monsoon Missions in Climate Governance
Monsoon Mission III continues India’s policy trajectory by embedding AI and ML into advisory dissemination systems, building on lessons and infrastructure developed in earlier missions.
Digital Inclusion Drives Extension of Services
Traditional agricultural extension services struggled with reach and timeliness. With AI-powered WhatsApp bots and multilingual IVR, the current initiative marks a shift toward scalable, user-friendly delivery—critical for bridging the digital divide in rural India.
Global South Relevance & South–South Cooperation
By targeting semi‑arid smallholders and planning cross‑country adaptation, the initiative aligns with CGIAR’s mandate and India’s DAKSHIN framework for sharing agricultural innovations across developing nations.
D) Key Takeaways from “AI‑Powered Climate Advisory”
| # | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | ICRISAT and ICAR launched an AI‑based agromet advisory system under Monsoon Mission III in late July 2025 |
| 2 | The AI‑enhanced iSAT platform processes real‑time weather, satellite and crop data to generate personalised advice. |
| 3 | Pilot project launched in Maharashtra, targeting smallholder farmers, with expansion plans nationally and to the Global South |
| 4 | Advisories are delivered via user‑friendly channels—WhatsApp bots, IVR, mobile apps, village centres—even in remote areas. |
| 5 | The programme lays groundwork for MausamGPT, India’s integrated LLM‑based climate advisory platform being developed under government vision. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the full form of ICRISAT?
Answer: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.
2. What is the purpose of the AI-powered advisory launched by ICRISAT?
Answer: To provide real-time, context-specific agrometeorological advice to smallholder farmers using AI/ML for climate-resilient agriculture.
3. In which state was the pilot of the AI-based climate advisory launched?
Answer: Maharashtra.
4. What is the name of the digital platform used for providing advisory services?
Answer: Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT).
5. Which upcoming national initiative is this project expected to support?
Answer: MausamGPT – an AI-powered national climate-tech platform.
6. Who are the key institutional partners in this initiative?
Answer: ICAR, ICRISAT, IITM, IMD, ILRI, IIT Ropar, IISc, and CSIO.
7. What delivery methods are being used to disseminate advisories to farmers?
Answer: WhatsApp bot, IVR system, mobile apps, and village resource centres.
8. Why is this initiative important for exam preparation?
Answer: It relates to topics in science & technology, environment, agriculture, and governance—relevant for UPSC, State PSCs, and other government exams.
9. Which mission is this initiative part of?
Answer: Monsoon Mission III.
10. How does this initiative benefit small farmers?
Answer: It offers tailored, timely agricultural advice that improves resilience, crop yield, and income under changing climate conditions.
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