ICRISAT pilots AI climate advisory in Maharashtra to support smallholder farmers

INDIA – ICRISAT and its partners have launched the first phase of a new climate advisory project in Maharashtra, India, aimed at improving how smallholder farmers respond to weather changes and farm planning.

The effort, which uses artificial intelligence, begins with ICAR’s Agro-Meteorological Field Units (AMFUs) and is expected to influence national and international farming systems in the future.

The project, called ‘AI-powered Context-Specific Agromet Advisory Services for Climate-Resilient Agriculture at Scale’, was launched during a workshop held at ICRISAT headquarters in Hyderabad from July 29 to July 30, 2025.

This pilot in Maharashtra marks a crucial step in using AI to support daily farming decisions based on local weather and crop conditions.

“The technology, developed in India, holds immense potential for adaptation across the Global South, where farmers face similar climate vulnerabilities,” said Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT.

“Through collaboration and innovation, we can scale these solutions to benefit millions by providing advice to manage risks and improve resilience.”

At the center of the project is a tool called iSAT, or Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool. Originally created under India’s Monsoon Mission II, iSAT turns complex climate and farming data into simple, clear recommendations.

The latest version of iSAT has been upgraded with artificial intelligence to offer faster and more precise updates for decisions such as when to sow seeds, irrigate crops, or respond to pest threats.

These updates will be shared through easy-to-access platforms, including an AI-powered WhatsApp bot. This feature will allow even remote farmers to receive timely and useful advice.

The pilot phase in Maharashtra, supported by ICAR-AMFUs, will be used to test and improve the platform before a wider rollout across other regions. Feedback from the field will help shape how the tool can work better across different farming environments.

Part of a larger vision

The initiative is being implemented under India’s Monsoon Mission III and includes several research and technical partners. These include the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–CRIDA, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), among others.

According to Dr. Suryachandra Rao, Director at IITM, this project is part of a broader government effort. “The Government of India envisions MausamGPT as a revolutionary platform that will redefine how localized climate information and recommendations are delivered. Building on iSAT, it will integrate forecasts, agricultural data, and large language models to deliver on-demand advisory.”

Dr. Shivananda Pai, who heads the Agromet Division at IMD, added, “Farmers need user-friendly tools to pull climate information when they need it. This initiative bridges the last-mile gap in agrometeorology.”

Dr. Ram Dhulipala of the CGIAR Digital Transformation Accelerator said the pilot could reshape how farming advice is delivered using digital technology.

Dr. Shalander Kumar of ICRISAT pointed out that the team effort behind the project could serve as a model for similar climate-smart farming tools in the Global South.

As the Maharashtra pilot takes shape, it may provide lessons that help farmers across Asia, Africa, and Latin America better prepare for climate challenges while improving their harvests.

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