A significant milestone is the development of ‘Kisan e-Mitra,’ an AI-powered chatbot addressing farmers’ queries about the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This comprehensive solution is evolving to support other government programmes and has been accessed by more than 21 lakh farmers within two months of its launch.
A tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed on Wednesday between the National Farmers’ Welfare Programme Implementation Society, IndiaAI under Digital India Corporation, and Wadhwani Foundation for furthering artificial intelligence in the agriculture sector.
Manoj Ahuja, secretary of the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, emphasized AI’s game-changing role, citing capabilities in advisories, feedback collection, crop monitoring, yield prediction, pest control, and resource optimization. Mr Prakash Kumar, CEO of the Wadhwani Institute of Technology and Policy, expressed delight in embarking on a groundbreaking journey with the ministry, sowing the seeds of innovation and knowledge for a more prosperous and food-secure future.
Per the MoU, Wadhwani Foundation will provide critical support in formulating and executing an AI strategy. The Foundation commits to assisting the Ministry in establishing India as a global leader in AI-driven digital agriculture transformation, aligning with the MeitY’s National Plan for AI. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in India’s agricultural landscape, where Ministry has institutionalized the use of AI in transforming digital agriculture through the creation of an AI cell within the Ministry.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, is leveraging cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for the benefit of farmers and to increase overall productivity, the ministry said through a press release issued on Thursday.
Additionally, the Ministry is developing a National Pest Surveillance System in collaboration with the private sector. AI and machine learning (ML) models detect crop issues, offering timely information to farmers for swift action. This initiative is expected to result in healthier crops, potentially boosting yields and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
“As a pioneering force in the integration of AI, the Ministry is setting a precedent for leveraging advanced technologies to address the challenges faced by the farmers in India,” reads the press release. “It is championing the India Digital Ecosystem Architecture (InDEA) 2.0’s network approach, designed by the Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India.”
A significant milestone in this journey is the development of ‘Kisan e-Mitra,’ an AI-powered chatbot addressing farmers’ queries about the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This comprehensive solution, available in Hindi, Tamil, Odia, Bangla, and English, is evolving to support other government programmes and has been accessed by more than 21 lakh farmers within two months.
