- 3.8 crore farmers in 13 states received AI-based monsoon forecasts via SMS.
- Forecasts delivered four weeks ahead of rainfall through the m-Kisan platform.
- AI models from Google Neural GCM and ECMWF AIFS outperformed traditional forecasts.
- Program accurately predicted a 20-day mid-season monsoon pause.
- Supported by Development Innovation Lab – India and Precision Development.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th Sept: In a landmark step for Indian agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW) has rolled out the country’s first AI-driven weather forecasting program, sending advance monsoon predictions via SMS to 3.8 crore farmers across 13 states this Kharif season.
For the first time, farmers received customised rainfall forecasts up to four weeks in advance, enabling better decisions on crop selection, sowing, and irrigation. The forecasts were disseminated through the government’s m-Kisan platform, making India a global pioneer in applying artificial intelligence to monsoon prediction for agriculture.
During a review meeting at Krishi Bhavan on September 8, senior officials including Additional Secretary Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda, Joint Secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, and Nobel laureate Prof. Michael Kremer discussed the program’s success and expansion plans. Dr. Meherda highlighted that AI forecasts allowed farmers to “plan agricultural activities with greater confidence and manage risks,” while Agarwal noted the forecasts accurately captured this year’s 20-day mid-season monsoon pause.
The initiative leverages cutting-edge global technology, blending Google’s Neural GCM and ECMWF’s Artificial Intelligence Forecasting Systems (AIFS), which have outperformed traditional models in predicting the monsoon’s onset. Messages were designed in simple, farmer-friendly language, developed in collaboration with the Development Innovation Lab – India and Precision Development to ensure clarity and practical use.
Prof. Ramesh Chand of NITI Aayog called the effort “tremendously valuable,” while Prof. Kremer hailed it as “a model for how to put people first in the age of AI.”
