Telangana Launches AI-Powered WhatsApp Weather Advisory for Farmers

In a move aimed at helping farmers make better decisions amid increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, the Telangana government has launched an AI-powered Weather Advisory Programme that will deliver timely weather forecasts and agricultural guidance directly to farmers through WhatsApp .

The initiative was formally launched by Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao at the State Secretariat on Saturday. The programme is being implemented by the Agriculture Department in collaboration with Development Innovation Lab (DIL) India and Evidence Action . A tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed during the event in the presence of government officials and representatives of the partner organisations.

Joining the programme virtually from New Delhi, Ankur Garg , Country Director of Evidence Action, highlighted the organisation’s efforts in developing innovative digital services powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the welfare of farmers. He expressed confidence that the initiative would directly benefit lakhs of cultivators across Telangana by enabling them to respond more effectively to changing weather patterns.

Addressing the gathering, Tummala Nageswara Rao said that agriculture is increasingly vulnerable to challenges posed by climate variability, including droughts and excessive rainfall. He stressed the importance of providing farmers with reliable and timely weather information to minimise risks and improve farm productivity.

Under the new system, farmers will receive mandal-level weather updates , including forecasts on rainfall, temperature fluctuations and other weather-related developments, through WhatsApp. The information is intended to help farmers make informed decisions at every stage of cultivation, from sowing and crop management to harvesting.

The minister noted that the AI-based advisory platform could significantly reduce crop losses and improve both productivity and farm incomes. To mark the launch, he personally sent the first official weather advisory message related to the upcoming monsoon season to farmers through WhatsApp.

Tummala also suggested expanding the platform beyond text-based alerts. He urged technology experts to develop a feature that would allow farmers to submit their weather and agriculture-related queries through voice notes and receive prompt responses. He further called for future upgrades to ensure that the service reaches every village and every farmer in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture Secretary K. Surendra Mohan said Telangana has emerged as a leader in integrating modern technology into agriculture. He described the initiative as an important component of the state's “Telangana Rising-2047” vision for sustainable agricultural development.

According to the secretary, the system will also help farmers prepare for complex climate events such as El Niño , enabling them to take precautionary measures in advance.

In the first phase, the WhatsApp-based advisory service will be rolled out to around 1.5 million farmers across 304 mandals in 17 districts , covering those whose phone numbers are registered at Rythu Bharosa Kendras . Officials expect the programme to strengthen climate resilience and improve decision-making among farmers as the state prepares for the upcoming agricultural season.