New Delhi, Sep 16 (NationPress) As climate change continues to disrupt rainfall patterns, the Indian government has initiated a groundbreaking effort to provide AI-driven forecasts directly to farmers via smartphones, enabling them to optimize their agricultural practices.

“The unusual monsoon this year, marked by an early onset and an unprecedented mid-season break, highlights the fragility of agricultural cycles. However, this year was unique for another reason: millions of farmers in India had the power of artificial intelligence at their fingertips,” states an article by Stacey Glaser in One World Outlook.

Previously, precise weather predictions were the realm of governments and affluent institutions, reliant on supercomputers costing millions.

“AI has started to break down that barrier. With open-source models such as Google’s NeuralGCM and the AI systems from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, detailed predictions are now achievable on devices as simple as a farmer’s smartphone,” according to Glaser.

This enhanced accessibility to forecasting is described not merely as a technological advancement but as a significant political and social achievement. The Indian government dispatched AI-powered forecasts to 38 million small farmers during this monsoon season.

“Instead of generic weather reports, forecasts were customized to meet the individual needs of farmers: whether to initiate early planting, purchase additional seeds, or prepare for potential drought conditions,” the article mentions.

Weather forecasting, once monopolized by elite organizations, is now being redefined as a public resource. Researchers from the University of Chicago, collaborating with the Indian government, have played a crucial role in translating machine learning outputs into actionable insights.

Amir Jina, an assistant professor involved with the initiative, emphasizes, “The missing link was the customization of forecasts to specific purposes.”

This customization is vital since a national forecast may issue a broad warning about heavy rains, yet farmers require detailed advice on whether to delay rice planting or to irrigate sugarcane fields. This necessitates locally relevant information, now facilitated by AI forecasts.

The article also highlights that the scale of India's forecasting initiative paves the way for similar implementations in other nations.

“If India can successfully deploy AI-driven forecasts for some of the world’s poorest farmers, it could inspire other developing countries to follow suit. In the face of climate change, information transcends power — it becomes a matter of survival,” the article concludes.