AI Tools Helping Farmers Adapt to Climate Change in India

Farmers in India are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence tools to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. These tools are accessible through various smartphone apps that provide critical services such as early warnings about disasters, fertilizer assessments, soil health analysis, and pest management support.

For instance, Yuvraj Mohite, a sugarcane farmer from Kolhapur district, used the app Fasal to navigate threats from monsoon rains earlier this year, allowing him to save 80 tons of sugarcane that he initially feared would be lost.

The app's guidance on irrigation not only salvaged his crop but also contributed to significant savings in water and fertilizer costs. As extreme weather events become more frequent, AI-driven applications like KisanGPT and Krushimandi are gaining popularity among farmers, with downloads rapidly increasing.

The Gates Foundation is investing $1.4 billion to bolster these digital tools for smallholder farmers in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing the need for localized weather forecasting to enhance agricultural resilience.

Experts estimate that AI advisories could lead to annual savings of $5.59 billion for Indian farmers. However, some critics, including Raju Shetti, a former member of India's Parliament, caution that AI cannot address all climate-related impacts, particularly during severe weather events.

Shetti advocates for stronger insurance policies to protect farmers from crop failures, as these are currently limited in scope. Moreover, challenges remain in reaching farmers with limited access to technology and those with low literacy rates.

Paul Winters, executive director at AIM for Scale, highlights the importance of effectively communicating the utility of these tools to ensure they benefit farmers on the ground.