Govt uses AI to improve farming, support farmers

New Delhi

The government is using artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle challenges in agriculture and support farmers, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed Parliament on Tuesday. AI-driven solutions are enhancing the implementation of various agricultural schemes.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Chouhan highlighted 'Kisan e-Mitra,' an AI-powered chatbot designed to assist farmers with queries related to the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. This multilingual chatbot is evolving to cover other government programs. Under PM-KISAN, eligible farmers receive ₹6,000 annually in three equal installments.

AI and machine learning are also being used in the National Pest Surveillance System to detect crop pest infestations early, allowing timely interventions. AI-based analytics assess crop health through field photographs, while satellite, weather, and soil moisture data monitor wheat and rice crops.

The government has also launched the 'PMFBY WhatsApp Chatbot' to help farmers navigate the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) crop insurance scheme.

Additionally, YES-TECH (Yield Estimation System Based on Technology) has been introduced to improve crop loss assessments. It has been integrated with conventional Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs), with 30% weightage given to YES-TECH-derived yield. This system was implemented for paddy and wheat in Kharif 2023 and for soybean in Kharif 2024.