Microsoft-ICRISAT Sowing Application
India
Microsoft-ICRISAT Sowing Application is an Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud and Big Data based digital solution developed through a partnership between Microsoft, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India. It uses AIand machine learning to provide personalized sowing advisories to farmers via SMS in Telugu. The app combines weather forecasting models with historical climate data to determine the optimal sowing time for crops, particularly groundnut. It's part of a larger initiative that includes a Personalized Village Advisory Dashboard for government officials to manage agricultural programs at scale.
Digital Solution (DS) Category
Digital Agriculture
Digital Solution Type (sub-category)
AI-Big data based solutions, Farm advisory services, Weather forecasting
Delivery type (format)
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Cloud-based
Big Data
SMS services / Voice messaging
DS supplier-user category
Business to consumers
Type of entity (ICT developer-supplier)
Academic/research
Name of supplier/developer
Microsoft Corporation in collaboration with ICRISAT
Primary Users
Farmers , Local authorities / government
Digital Solution Development Stage
Commercial stage (broad use use locally)
Number of users or subscribers
Over 3,000 farmers across Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka (as of 2017) Source: Developer website
Measurable positive impact(s) by Digital Solution (DS) on target users and/or audience
30% higher yield per hectare for groundnut farmers in the pilot program Increase in yield ranged from 10% to 30% across crops (including maize, rice, and cotton) in expanded program Source: Developer website
Digital Solution Geographic scope
Initially Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, with expansion to other states
Name of Digital village(s), districts, communes where DS is used/deployed
On-line resource links (Web-page links, links to videos, links to reports, etc)
DS Links to FAO, UN and other Development agencies projects, initiatives and programmes