Oilseed growers get AI help

In a major step towards digital agriculture, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has launched ‘Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra’, a nationwide WhatsApp-based artificial intelligence advisory service designed to provide instant, research-backed guidance to oilseed farmers across India.

The service, developed by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (ICAR-IIOR), Hyderabad, was launched on February 6, 2026, during the National Oilseeds Conference in New Delhi. 

The initiative comes as India intensifies efforts to boost domestic oilseed production and reduce dependence on edible oil imports. 

The AI-powered chatbot offers free, multilingual support and can be accessed directly through WhatsApp without downloading any additional application. Farmers can save the number +91 4024598180 and seek information in any Indian language. The platform provides instant advice on major oilseed crops, including soybean, groundnut, mustard, sunflower, sesame and niger. Farmers can obtain guidance on variety selection, crop management, pest and disease control, irrigation practices, seed availability and post-harvest management.