ICAR launches ‘Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra’

Why in News?

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has launched ‘Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra’, a WhatsApp-based Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered advisory service for oilseed farmers. The initiative was launched during the National Oilseeds Conference in New Delhi on 6 February 2026.

Key Highlights

• Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra is an AI-enabled digital advisory platform developed by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), Hyderabad.
• The service was launched by the Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR.
• It provides 24×7, research-based advisory support to oilseed farmers in multiple Indian languages.
• Farmers can access crop-specific recommendations directly through WhatsApp, eliminating the need to download any separate mobile application.
• The platform leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deliver timely and customized information on oilseed cultivation practices.

Significance

• The initiative aims to strengthen extension services and improve the dissemination of scientific knowledge to farmers.
• It supports the government’s efforts to enhance domestic oilseed production and reduce India’s dependence on edible oil imports.
• The service is particularly significant as India enters the kharif sowing season, when major oilseed crops such as soybean and groundnut are cultivated.

About ICAR

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is an autonomous organization under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• It is the apex national body responsible for coordinating, guiding, and managing agricultural education, research, and extension activities in India.