Solution Overview
Submitter: Dept of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW)
ICRISAT, with the support of partners, developed iSAT, an AI-based, context-specific agro-advisory platform for climate risk management. It delivers dynamic, location-specific, and weather-informed advisories tailored to farmers' cropping stages and local conditions. By integrating real-time climate data, crop calendars, and local knowledge, ISAT addresses the gap in timely and actionable decision support for smallholder farmers in managing climate risks.
Key Features & Benefits
- AI and a rule-based engine integrate weather forecasts, soil, crop, and local datasets
- Generates Seasonal and 5-day weather-based crop advisories in local languages, delivered via SMS, WhatsApp, and extension networks.
- Covers the complete cropping cycle, including land preparation, sowing, nutrient and pest management, irrigation, and harvesting.
- Farmer feedback loop integrated for continuous refinement and trust-building.
- Customizable interface for different regions, languages, and partner organizations.
Where It Works and Where It Can Work
ISAT was first tested and piloted in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India, followed by field testing in Parbhani, Maharashtra, India in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD). It has since undergone scale testing in Odisha, reaching over 6,000 farmers across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
The platform is currently being customized for the entire state of Maharashtra, India, and Ethiopia, in collaboration with national partners, to support the integration of CSA. Scaling efforts are underway in Maharashtra to embed iSAT within state-level climate advisory systems.
Evidence & Impact
Farmers report higher confidence in decision-making and improved outcomes in crop planning and pest management.
Odisha pilot showed uptake in timely sowing, harvest, and input optimization, especially among smallholders.
Kenya pilot demonstrated the feasibility of forecast-linked advisories in Swahili with strong local engagement.
Scalability & Adoption Support
Open, modular design allows for easy integration with existing agricultural extension systems and weather services.
Multi-language support enables deployment across diverse regions with minimal customization.
Government partnerships facilitate institutional adoption and scaling through official channels.
Contact Information & Partners
Partner: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India
Contact Info: Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda (Additional Secretary)
Email:
pk.meherda@nic.inPhone:
011-23381176
