Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra: WhatsApp AI Advice Service for Farmers
Why in the news
The ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR) in Hyderabad launched Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra, a WhatsApp chatbot that gives oilseed growers research-based advice at no cost.
Key facts
- Developer: ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad.
- Cost: free for farmers.
- Access: the farmer stores the official number +91 40 2459 8180 in the phone under the service name, sends a question, and the AI engine interprets it and returns research-validated advice at once.
- Crops: groundnut, mustard, sesame, sunflower, soybean and niger.
- Languages: every official regional language (Hindi, Kannada, Gujarati, Telugu, Malayalam and more), supported by an NLP (natural language processing) design.
Advice across the crop cycle
| Stage | Guidance given |
|---|---|
| Before sowing | High-yield regional seed varieties and where official seed is available; soil preparation and sowing practice |
| Growth | Live diagnosis of pests, weeds and diseases; precision irrigation schedules; tailored fertiliser use |
| After harvest | Processing, drying and storage methods |
Why oilseeds matter
- As one of the biggest consumers of edible oil, India meets 55 to 60 per cent of demand through imports, a bill of roughly USD 18 to 20 billion each year.
- Cutting import dependence is a strategic priority.
- A strong oilseed sector helps food security, eases the current account deficit, supports farm incomes and diversifies farming beyond paddy and wheat.
National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)
- Union government mission aimed at higher home-grown edible oil output and reduced imports.
- NMEO-Oil Palm (2021): targets oil palm farming, with stress on the North East and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- NMEO-Oilseeds (2024): crops such as soybean, mustard, groundnut and sesame.
About ICAR
- Apex body for coordinating agricultural research and education in India.
- Originally founded in 1929 under the name Imperial Council of Agricultural Research; New Delhi is its headquarters.
- Functions within DARE, the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry.
- Has over 100 institutes and 70+ agricultural universities.
Exam angle
- Developer: ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad; medium: WhatsApp.
- Related terms: NLP, AI chatbot, NMEO, eNAM (launched 2016), Agri Stack, Krishi-DSS (a GIS-based decision-support platform).
- Oilseed examples: groundnut, mustard, soybean, sesame, sunflower, niger, safflower, castor.