Archive · 6 Dec 2025
AI Monsoon Alerts Influence Farmer Planting Decisions
In 2025, the Indian government used AI to tell farmers when the monsoon rains would start in their areas.
They sent these predictions to millions of farmers through text messages.
About half of the farmers who got these messages changed when they planted their crops.
The AI used old rain data to make these predictions.
The government also has other AI tools to help farmers, like a chatbot that answers questions and a system that helps farmers spot pests.
They also talked about how much rubber and meat India is making and selling to other countries.
Up to 52% of farmers in 13 Indian states adjusted their planting decisions based on AI-generated monsoon onset forecasts during kharif 2025.
The forecasts were sent via SMS to 38.8 million farmers in five languages through the M-Kisan portal.
The AI-based forecasting system used 125 years of historical rainfall data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The government has employed AI methods to improve crop productivity, including a voice-based chatbot 'Kisan e-Mitra' and a pest surveillance system.
India's natural rubber production increased by 22.37% and imports by 34.21% from 2020-2025, while meat exports declined by 2.99% in 2024-25.
- Who
- Farmers in 13 Indian states, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ramnath Thakur
- What
- AI-generated local monsoon onset forecasts influenced planting decisions, AI methods used to improve crop productivity and pest management
- When
- During kharif 2025, with data from 2020-2025 for rubber and meat exports
- Where
- 13 states in India, with specific surveys in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar
- Why
- To help farmers make informed decisions about planting and crop management
- Farmers Reached
- 3,88,45,214
- States Involved
- 13
- Languages Used
- Hindi, Odia, Marathi, Bangla, Punjabi
- Farmers Adjusted Planting
- 31-52%
- Historical Data Used
- 125 years
- AI Models Used
- NeuralGCM, ECMWF's AI Forecasting System
- Kisan e-Mitra Queries Handled
- 93 lakh
- Pest Surveillance System Users
- 10,000 extension workers
