Artificial intelligence is moving into Indian agriculture through tools that can identify pests, provide weather information and offer crop advice. The government is also developing AI-based services that combine information on crops, markets, weather, soil and government schemes. These tools are designed to help farmers make decisions with better information.
The technology is being developed by government departments, ICAR institutes and other agricultural agencies. It uses photographs, satellite images, weather data, field information and agricultural databases. For farmers, the idea is not to replace traditional farming knowledge but to provide information that can help them respond to problems earlier.
The National Pest Surveillance System is one of the clearest examples of AI entering Indian agriculture. Farmers and extension workers can use photographs to identify pests and crop problems. The system uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to support pest identification and generate crop protection advisories.
The system has expanded its coverage in recent years. As of August 2026, it covered 73 crops and 436 pests. The government said the system had generated 35,565 advisories. More than 10,000 extension workers were also using it to monitor pest problems and provide information to farmers.
This can be useful when farmers see unusual insects or damage but cannot identify the cause. Early identification can help farmers seek the right advice before a pest spreads across more of the crop. It can also help reduce unnecessary pesticide applications when farmers are unsure about the problem.
Farmers should still verify serious crop problems with agricultural experts before taking costly action. A photograph may help identify a pest, but the right treatment can depend on the crop stage, infestation level, weather and local conditions.
Weather Forecasts Can Support Sowing Decisions
AI is also being used to improve weather information for farmers. The government has tested AI-based local monsoon forecasting to provide information that farmers can use for decisions related to sowing, land preparation and crop selection. The aim is to make forecasts more useful at the local level.
During Kharif 2025, an AI-based local monsoon forecasting pilot reached 3.88 crore farmers across 13 states. A government survey found that 31–52% of farmers changed decisions related to sowing and land preparation after receiving the forecasts.
Weather information can be especially useful when farmers have to decide when to prepare fields or sow crops. A forecast cannot guarantee rainfall in a particular field, but it can give farmers another source of information before they spend money on seeds, fertilisers and other inputs.
Bharat-VISTAAR is another major AI-based agricultural service launched in 2026. It is designed to provide farmers with location-specific information about crop management, weather, market prices, pests, diseases, soil health and government schemes. The platform is being developed as a multilingual service with voice-based access.
The service connects information from several agricultural databases. Its first phase brings together sources including the India Meteorological Department, AgMarkNet and the National Pest Surveillance System. This allows farmers to access different types of agricultural information through a single digital service instead of searching for each source separately.
By August 2026, Bharat-VISTAAR had served more than 5.9 lakh farmers and handled over 93 lakh farmer queries. The government said it provides information linked to 18 central government schemes, along with crop and livestock advisories, weather forecasts and mandi prices.
The platform is also designed to reduce language barriers. Farmers can access information through voice and digital channels rather than depending only on written instructions. This can be useful for farmers who are more comfortable asking questions in their regional language.
Crop-Specific AI Services Are Also Growing
AI-based services are being developed for specific crops as well. ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research launched Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra in February 2026. Farmers can use WhatsApp to ask questions about groundnut, mustard, sesame, sunflower and soybean. The service provides information on varieties, crop management, pests, irrigation and post-harvest practices.
The service shows how agricultural advice can move onto platforms farmers already use. Farmers do not need a separate application for the service. They can ask questions through WhatsApp and receive crop-specific information in Indian languages. ICAR says the service is available free of cost throughout the day.
This type of service can be useful during the crop season when farmers need quick information. A farmer dealing with a pest, irrigation question or variety choice can first access digital advice and then contact a KVK or agriculture officer when the issue needs field-level assessment.
AI is also being combined with drones, satellites, sensors and remote sensing for precision agriculture. ICAR is developing systems for crop and soil monitoring, irrigation, livestock health and post-harvest activities. These technologies can help collect information from fields that would otherwise require repeated physical inspections.
The potential benefit is better use of farm resources. Sensor data can help monitor soil moisture, while satellite and drone images can identify differences in crop growth. AI can then process this information and help identify areas that may need attention. Such systems are still developing and access remains limited for many small farmers.
Farmers should also check the source of any AI-generated advice before spending money or applying chemicals. Digital tools can support decisions, but they cannot see every field condition. Local soil, crop variety, pest pressure, irrigation and weather can all affect what works on a farm.
What Farmers Can Do Now
Farmers do not need to adopt every new technology at once. They can start with services that address a specific problem. Pest surveillance can help identify crop pests, weather services can support sowing decisions and agricultural chatbots can provide information about schemes, crops and markets.
The useful question is not whether AI is advanced. It is whether the information helps you make a better farm decision. If an AI tool helps identify a pest earlier, understand an upcoming weather change or find a suitable government scheme, it can save time and help you seek the right advice.
AI will not replace a farmer’s experience or the role of agricultural experts. Its value will depend on accurate information, local language access and advice that matches real field conditions. For farmers, the best approach is to use AI as an additional source of information and combine it with local knowledge and expert guidance.
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