Overview Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ramnath Thakur , stated that the Indian government is increasingly adopting advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) , to address agricultural challenges. These technologies aim to enhance crop productivity, improve supply chain efficiency, and raise farmers’ income. The statement was made in response to a question by Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, December 09, 2025 . Key Developments AI Applications in Agriculture Decision-Making: AI is helping improve farmers’ decision-making processes, leading to better agricultural practices and increased income levels. Kisan e-Mitra Chatbot: This chatbot offers voice-based responses to farmers on schemes such as PM-Kisan , crop insurance, and the Kisan Credit Card . It is available in 11 regional languages . Query Handling: The chatbot handles more than 8,000 queries a day and has answered over 9.3 million questions so far. National Pest Monitoring System: This system uses AI and machine learning to support the early detection of pest attacks. More than 10,000 agricultural extension personnel are using the tool. Pest Identification: The system can identify 432 types of pests across 66 crop varieties . AI-Based Monsoon Forecasts: For Kharif 2025 , AI-based monsoon forecasts were prepared for 13 States and shared with 3.88 million farmers through the M-Kisan platform. Impact on Cultivation Decisions: Between 31% and 52% of farmers reportedly modified their cultivation decisions based on the advisories. Partnerships and Scaling Up Collaboration: The government is partnering with agritech startups, private firms, and research institutions to develop AI solutions. Focus Areas: These solutions focus on blockchain-based traceability, logistics optimization, and quality assessment. Scaling Up: Successful models are being scaled up to more States, warehouses, districts, and farmers’ producer organizations. UPSC Relevance This news highlights the increasing role of technology in agriculture, a critical area for UPSC aspirants. It touches upon GS3 (Economy, Science and Technology) and GS2 (Government Policies and Interventions) . Understanding these initiatives is crucial for answering questions related to agricultural modernization, technology adoption, and government schemes aimed at improving farmers' livelihoods. Key Takeaways for UPSC AI in Agriculture: Understand the various applications of AI in improving agricultural practices and productivity. Government Initiatives: Be aware of schemes like PM-Kisan, Kisan Credit Card, and platforms like M-Kisan. Technological Advancements: Focus on how technology is being used to address challenges in agriculture, such as pest management and weather forecasting. Public-Private Partnerships: Recognize the importance of collaboration between government, startups, and research institutions in driving innovation in agriculture. Important Facts Kisan e-Mitra: An AI-powered chatbot available in 11 regional languages , addressing over 8,000 queries daily . National Pest Monitoring System: Utilizes AI and machine learning to identify 432 types of pests across 66 crop varieties . M-Kisan Platform: Disseminated AI-based monsoon forecasts to 3.88 million farmers in 13 States for Kharif 2025 . Impact of Forecasts: 31-52% of farmers modified cultivation decisions based on AI advisories.