Source: PIB
Context
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has highlighted the nationwide impact of Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra, India’s first WhatsApp-based AI advisory service for oilseed cultivation, as farmers enter the crucial kharif sowing season. Developed by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (ICAR-IIOR), Hyderabad, the 24×7 multilingual AI-powered chatbot delivers research-validated agricultural advice to farmers in their native regional languages, directly via WhatsApp, without requiring downloads of separate apps or complex browsers.
The Platform
- Name: Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra.
- Developer: ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (ICAR-IIOR), Hyderabad.
- Nature: AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot, 24×7 multilingual.
- Cost to farmers: Free.
- No app download needed: Works directly within WhatsApp.
How to Access
- Step 1: Save the official number +91 40 2459 8180 as “Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra”.
- Step 2: Open WhatsApp and type, speak, or send a crop-related query in the native regional language.
- Step 3: The AI engine parses the query and delivers research-validated advice instantly.
Crops Covered
- Groundnut.
- Mustard.
- Sesame.
- Sunflower.
- Soybean.
- Niger.
Languages Supported
- All official Indian regional languages, including Hindi, Kannada, Gujarati, Telugu, Malayalam, and others.
- Built on a natural language processing (NLP) architecture.
End-to-End Crop Cycle Guidance
- High-yield regional seed variety selection and official seed availability.
- Agronomic soil preparation and sowing practices.
- Real-time pest, weed, and disease control diagnostics.
- Precision irrigation scheduling and tailored fertiliser application.
- Post-harvest processing, drying, and storage techniques.
Why is Oilseed Farming So Important for India?
- India is one of the world’s largest consumers of edible oils.
- India imports about 55 to 60 per cent of its edible oil needs, costing about USD 18 to 20 billion annually.
- Reducing import dependence is a strategic priority.
- A strong domestic oilseed sector is crucial for:
- Food security.
- Reducing current account deficit (CAD).
- Supporting farmer incomes.
- Diversifying agriculture beyond paddy and wheat.
What is the National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)?
- A central government mission to boost domestic edible oil production.
- Two key components:
- NMEO-Oil Palm (2021): Focused on oil palm cultivation, especially in the North East and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- NMEO-Oilseeds (2024): Focused on oilseeds like soybean, mustard, groundnut, sesame, and others.
- Aims to reduce edible oil import dependence.
ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) at a Glance
- The apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture in India.
- Founded in 1929 as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
- Headquartered in New Delhi.
- Under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Has a network of over 100 institutes and 70+ agricultural universities.
Key Terms
- Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra: India’s first WhatsApp-based AI advisory chatbot for oilseed cultivation.
- AI Chatbot: A software application that uses artificial intelligence to converse with users in natural language and provide automated responses.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): A branch of AI that enables computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language.
- ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research): The apex body for agricultural research and education in India, founded in 1929.
- ICAR-IIOR: The Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad.
- Oilseed: A plant whose seeds are grown primarily for the production of edible or industrial oils, including groundnut, mustard, soybean, sesame, sunflower, niger, safflower, castor.
- National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO): A central mission to boost domestic edible oil production, with NMEO-Oil Palm (2021) and NMEO-Oilseeds (2024).
- eNAM (National Agriculture Market): An online trading platform for agricultural commodities, launched in 2016.
- Agri Stack: An integrated data architecture for Indian agriculture, part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in agriculture.
- Krishi-DSS (Krishi Decision Support System): A GIS-based decision-support platform for Indian agriculture.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra, consider the following statements:
- It is India’s first WhatsApp-based AI advisory service for oilseed cultivation.
- It is developed by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad.
- It is a 24×7 multilingual AI-powered chatbot that is free to access.
- It requires farmers to download a separate mobile application to access the service.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; the service is accessible directly via WhatsApp, without requiring any separate app download.)
Q2. With reference to the coverage and design of Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra, consider the following statements:
- The chatbot provides advice on oilseeds like groundnut, mustard, sesame, sunflower, soybean, and niger.
- It supports all official Indian regional languages, including Hindi, Kannada, Gujarati, Telugu, and Malayalam.
- The chatbot integrates research from ICAR-IIOR, NSRI, IIGR, IIRMR, and the Project Coordinating Unit for Sesame and Niger.
- The chatbot covers only the seed selection stage of farming, not the post-harvest stage.
Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
(Statement 4 is wrong; the chatbot provides end-to-end crop cycle guidance, including post-harvest processing, drying, and storage.)
Q3. With reference to ICAR and its institutes, consider the following statements:
- ICAR is the apex body for agricultural research and education in India, founded in 1929.
- ICAR-IIGR is located in Junagadh, ICAR-IIRMR in Bharatpur, and ICAR-NSRI in Indore.
- ICAR functions under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- ICAR is a private research foundation, with no formal link to the Government of India.
Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
(Statement 4 is wrong; ICAR is the apex government body for agricultural research, NOT a private research foundation.)
Q4. With reference to India’s edible oil sector and policies, consider the following statements:
- India imports about 55 to 60 per cent of its edible oil needs, costing about USD 18 to 20 billion annually.
- The National Mission on Edible Oils includes both NMEO-Oil Palm (2021) and NMEO-Oilseeds (2024).
- Major oilseed crops in India include groundnut, mustard, soybean, sesame, sunflower, and niger.
- India is self-sufficient in edible oils, with no need for imports.
Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
(Statement 4 is wrong; India imports about 55-60 per cent of its edible oil needs, NOT self-sufficient.)
Answer Key
- (c), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because the service is accessible directly via WhatsApp without requiring a separate app download.
- (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because the chatbot covers the entire crop cycle, including post-harvest stages.
- (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because ICAR is the apex government body for agricultural research.
- (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because India imports a large share of its edible oil needs.
Exam Relevance
| NABARD Grade A | Very high importance, agriculture, oilseeds, ICAR, rural extension |
