ICAR Launches "Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra" Multilingual AI WhatsApp Chatbot for Farmers

The Event

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has launched a multilingual, WhatsApp-based artificial intelligence advisory service named "Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra." Accessible via the dedicated number +91 4024598180, the platform is designed to provide oilseed farmers with 24/7 scientific guidance directly through WhatsApp. The platform supports voice and text inputs in multiple Indian languages, offering crop advisory services without requiring farmers to download additional apps.

Background & Context

India is a major consumer of vegetable oils, but it relies heavily on imports to meet its domestic demand, importing nearly 60% of its edible oil requirements. To achieve self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in oilseeds, the government has focused on expanding domestic production. However, farmers often face an information gap regarding variety selection, crop management, and pest control. To bridge this gap, the ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), Hyderabad, developed the "Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra" AI chatbot. The chatbot uses generative AI to process farmers' local language queries, retrieving scientific, research-backed crop advisory data to help improve crop yields and farm productivity.

Key Statistics

• Contact WhatsApp Number: +91 4024598180
• Crops Serviced: All major oilseed crops, including groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, sesame, sunflower, safflower, soybean, castor, and niger.
• Availability & Cost: Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, completely free of charge.
• Edible Oil Import Impact: India spends over Rs. 1 lakh crore annually on importing edible oils; domestic yield improvement is a primary national goal.

Static GK & Related Facts

• ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research): Established on July 16, 1929, as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, in response to the Royal Commission on Agriculture. Headquartered in New Delhi, it is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture in India.
• ICAR-IIOR (Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research): Established in Hyderabad in 1977 as the Directorate of Oilseeds Research (DOR) and upgraded to an institute in 2015, IIOR focuses on basic, strategic, and applied research on oilseed crops.
• Yellow Revolution: Launched in 1986-87 to increase the production of oilseeds, particularly mustard and sesame, to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils. Sam Pitroda is often associated with this revolution.