Telangana Launches AI-Based Weather Advisory Programme for 15 Lakh Farmers Across 17 Districts
Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao launched the Telangana Weather Advisory Programme, an AI-based initiative that will provide weather forecasts and farm advisories via WhatsApp to 15 lakh farmers across 17 districts and 304 mandals.
Hyderabad: Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Saturday officially launched the ambitious Telangana Weather Advisory Programme at the State Secretariat to provide timely weather information and scientific agricultural guidance to farmers. The AI-based initiative will deliver weather forecasts and farm advisories through WhatsApp to 15 lakh farmers across 17 districts and 304 mandals in the state.
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The programme is being implemented by the Telangana Agriculture Department in collaboration with Development Innovation Lab India (DIL India) and Evidence Action. An MoU was signed between the Agriculture Department, Development Innovation Lab India, and Evidence Action as part of the initiative.
Telangana Weather Advisory Programme Launched at State Secretariat
The Telangana Government has launched the Telangana Weather Advisory Programme to ensure that farmers receive accurate and timely weather information and scientific farming recommendations.
Evidence Action Country Director Ankur Gar participated in the launch virtually from New Delhi through Zoom and explained to the minister the artificial intelligence-based programmes being implemented by the organization for farmers.
Ankur Gar stated that the initiative would benefit lakhs of farmers in Telangana. He thanked the Telangana Government and Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao for providing the opportunity and said the organization would continue working with the state government to deliver more services to farmers in the future.
Tummala Nageswara Rao Highlights Need for Timely Weather Information
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao said climate change is creating major challenges for the agriculture sector, making it essential to provide farmers with accurate and timely weather information.
He stated that the primary objective of the programme is to use modern technology to provide practical field-level advisories that help farmers make informed agricultural decisions.
According to the minister, farmers will receive:
- Mandal-wise rainfall information
- Temperature forecasts
- Weather conditions
- Agricultural advisories
All information will be delivered directly through WhatsApp.
AI-Based Weather Forecasts to Help Farmers Reduce Crop Losses
The minister said the use of artificial intelligence-based weather forecasting will enable farmers to take cultivation-related decisions at the right time.
He noted that this would help reduce crop losses, improve productivity, increase farmers’ income, and promote climate-resilient agricultural practices.
During the event, the first weather advisory message related to the upcoming monsoon season and rainfall conditions was sent to farmers through WhatsApp by Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao.
Minister Suggests Expansion of Farmer Services
Tummala Nageswara Rao suggested further development of the platform so that farmers can directly ask questions related to weather conditions and agricultural advisories through voice messages and receive responses.
He also requested organization representatives to make necessary technological improvements to expand the service from the mandal level to the village level.
Telangana Aims to Strengthen Agriculture Through Technology
Agriculture Department Secretary K. Surendramohan, IAS, said Telangana is among the leading states in the country in adopting modern technology.
He stated that the programme would contribute to achieving the Telangana Rising–2047 goals by using artificial intelligence to provide more effective weather-based agricultural services and support sustainable agricultural development.
Surendramohan further said that the AI-based system has the capability to provide precise and timely information to farmers, helping them adopt suitable farming practices based on weather conditions such as El Niño and other climatic changes.
15 Lakh Farmers Across 304 Mandals to Receive WhatsApp Updates
According to the Agriculture Department Secretary, the service will reach farmers whose phone numbers are registered under Rythu Bharosa.
The programme will provide WhatsApp-based weather and agriculture advisories to:
- 15 lakh farmers
- 17 districts
- 304 mandals
Officials and Representatives Present
The programme was attended by:
- K. Surendramohan, IAS, Agriculture Department Secretary
- B. Gopi, Director of Agriculture
- Rahul Raj, IAS, Special Director, Cooperation Department
- Senior government officials
- Representatives of Development Innovation Lab India
- Representatives of Evidence Action
The Telangana Government on Saturday launched the Telangana Weather Advisory Programme at the State Secretariat under the leadership of Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao. Implemented with Development Innovation Lab India and Evidence Action, the AI-based initiative will provide weather forecasts and agricultural advisories through WhatsApp to 15 lakh farmers across 17 districts and 304 mandals. Officials said the programme will help farmers make timely decisions, reduce crop losses, improve productivity, and promote sustainable agriculture.
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