Non-governmental organisation Digital Green Trust is scaling its AI-based FarmerChat app, which has reached close to one million farmers across nine Indian states, providing real-time advisory on crop health, pest management, weather forecasts, and government schemes, according to CEO Nidhi Bhasin.
Key Features and Adoption
FarmerChat is a multimodal application available for free on the Google Play Store for Android phones. Farmers can ask questions by voice, text, or photo in their own language. Advisories are issued in six languages: Hindi, English, Odia, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi. The app provides actionable responses in seconds, covering topics such as crop disease, pest management, irrigation, livestock care, weather forecasts, and climate-smart practices.
Bhasin noted that farmers predominantly use voice or image modes, which helps overcome low literacy barriers. The app is built on open-source AI and distributed through partnerships with private sector and non-profit organisations.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total farmers reached | ~1 million |
| States covered | 9 |
| Total queries | >3 million |
| Active users who act on advice | 60% |
| FarmerChat as primary/only source | 91% |
| Net Promoter Score (overall) | 72 (up from 21) |
| NPS among women users | 87 |
Impact on Farmer Decision-Making
Bhasin shared the example of farmer Anu Kumari, who cultivates 1.5 acres in Bihar. Kumari planned to sow potatoes on a cloudy day but checked FarmerChat, which predicted rain. She delayed sowing, and rain fell the next day, saving approximately ₹5,000 in seeds and fertiliser that would have been wasted. Kumari now regularly uses the app for guidance on paddy, vegetables, pest attacks, and weather decisions.
Independent evaluations show that 60% of active users act on the advice they receive, and 91% treat FarmerChat as their primary or only source of farming information. The Net Promoter Score has grown from 21 to 72 overall and reached 87 among women users.
Technology and Partnerships
Digital Green was launched in 2008 as a spin-off of Microsoft Research Lab India. For nearly two decades, the organisation has focused on using technology to improve agricultural extension for smallholder farmers. Initially, it employed video-based learning with local farmers as actors, disseminated through frontline workers and government departments. Today, it is scaling the FarmerChat app.
The app leverages artificial intelligence, built on open-source technology. It is provided through partnerships with private sector and non-profit organisations. Philanthropic support comes from organisations such as the Rockefeller Foundation, which has backed the app since its launch 18 months ago.
Relevance to Agricultural Commodity Markets
For commodity traders and analysts, the widespread adoption of FarmerChat among smallholder growers in India signals a shift toward data-driven farming. The app directly addresses crops such as paddy, vegetables, and potatoes — staples that underpin Indian agricultural markets. By enabling farmers to diagnose pest attacks early, receive weather alerts, and access best practices, the app helps reduce input costs and increase productivity, as stated by Bhasin. This can influence the quantity and quality of commodities reaching markets, although specific output data is not detailed in the source. The app's focus on timely advisory, such as the potato sowing decision in Bihar, demonstrates its potential to affect local supply dynamics of key agricultural commodities.
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