KISAN SARATHI PLATFORM
Why in News?
- The Government highlighted the achievements and expanding reach of the Kisan Sarathi Platform, India’s largest integrated digital agro-advisory platform.
- As of June 2026, the platform has registered 2.95 crore farmers and is providing agricultural advisory services across 36 States/UTs, 768 districts, and 6.63 lakh villages.
WHAT IS KISAN SARATHI?
About
- Kisan Sarathi is a national digital agricultural advisory platform launched in July 2021.
- It provides timely, authentic, multilingual, and location-specific advisories to farmers.
- It serves as a one-stop platform for agricultural information, expert consultation, government schemes, weather updates, and market intelligence.
Developed By
- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Implemented By
- Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute
- Digital India Corporation
OBJECTIVES OF KISAN SARATHI
Digital Agricultural Extension
- Deliver scientific agricultural knowledge directly to farmers.
Farmer Empowerment
- Enable informed decision-making through real-time information.
Technology Integration
- Create a unified digital ecosystem for agricultural services.
Lab-to-Land Transfer
- Facilitate the transfer of research findings and technologies from institutions to farmers.
TECHNOLOGY BACKBONE: INTERACTIVE INFORMATION DISSEMINATION SYSTEM (IIDS)
About IIDS
- Kisan Sarathi is powered by the Interactive Information Dissemination System (IIDS).
- It enables two-way communication between farmers and agricultural experts.
Communication Modes
- Voice calls.
- Video calls.
- Text messages.
- Image sharing.
- Video exchange through chat.
KEY FUNCTIONS
- Personalized advisories.
- Service subscriptions.
- Modification of subscriptions.
- Access to farmer interaction history.
- Tailored recommendations.
KNOW YOUR FARMER APPROACH
Features
- Maintains farmer profiles and interaction history.
- Helps experts understand local conditions and farmer needs.
- Improves the accuracy and relevance of advisories.
INSTITUTIONAL NETWORK CONNECTED TO KISAN SARATHI
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
- More than 730 KVKs connected to the platform.
ICAR Institutions
- Over 100 ICAR institutes
- Network of 4,767 ICAR scientists.
- Support from 113 ICAR institutions.
Agricultural Universities
- More than 65 agricultural universities
INTEGRATION WITH NATIONAL DIGITAL PLATFORMS
Kisan Call Centre
- Direct telephonic support for farmers.
Common Service Centres
- Digital access points in rural areas.
India Meteorological Department
- Weather forecasts and climate advisories.
MyScheme Portal
- Access to government welfare schemes.
BHASHINI
- Multilingual communication and translation support.
ACCESS CHANNELS FOR FARMERS
Farmers can access Kisan Sarathi through:
- Kisan Call Centres.
- Common Service Centres (CSCs).
- Web Portal.
- Mobile Application.
Significance
- Ensures inclusion despite differences in internet access and digital literacy.
MAJOR SERVICES OFFERED
Agricultural Advisory
- Region-specific and crop-specific recommendations.
- Real-time expert guidance.
Weather Information
- Timely weather forecasts and alerts.
Market Intelligence
- District-wise mandi prices.
- Market trends for major crops.
Government Schemes
- Information on eligible schemes.
- Status tracking of benefits.
SCHEME COVERAGE
Scheme Coverage
- Total schemes available: 610
- Central government schemes: 102
Expert Consultation
- Direct interaction with KVK experts.
- Advisory services in local languages.
Training and Capacity Building
- Online training sessions.
- Video consultations and demonstrations.
COVERAGE OF AGRICULTURAL SECTORS
Crop Sector
Advisories cover:
- Cereals.
- Pulses.
- Oilseeds.
- Horticulture crops.
- Plantation crops.
- Fodder crops.
Allied Sectors
- Livestock.
- Poultry
- Fisheries.
- Allied agricultural activities.
KEY FEATURES OF KISAN SARATHI
Personalized Advisory
- Based on farmer profile and farm characteristics.
Multilingual Support
- Live interaction in 13 regional languages.
Push Notifications
- Location-specific alerts and advisories.
Knowledge Database
- Access to scientific agricultural information.
Easy Registration
- Registration through toll-free numbers and online platforms.
Call and Conferencing Facilities
- Direct communication with experts.
ACHIEVEMENTS & REACH
Geographical Coverage
- 36 States and Union Territories.
- 768 districts.
- 6.63 lakh villages.
Farmer Registration
- 2.95 crore registered farmers.
- 56.16 lakh women beneficiaries.
Registration Channels
- 2.89 crore through KVKs.
- 5.35 lakh through Kisan Call Centres.
- 39,193 through CSCs.
- 21,517 through mobile applications.
- 2,416 through the web portal.
Service Delivery
- 21 lakh farmer queries addressed.
- 21,900 advisories
- Coverage of 351 commodities across 34 States/UTs.
BENEFITS FOR AGRICULTURAL STAKEHOLDERS
For Farmers
- Easy access to reliable and localized information.
- Better farm-level decision-making.
- Improved productivity and income opportunities.
For ICAR Institutions and Universities
- Wider dissemination of research findings.
- Better outreach to farming communities.
For KVKs and Experts
- Faster and more efficient advisory delivery.
- Improved technology transfer from laboratory to field.
For Policymakers
- Access to real-time field data and analytics.
- Better evidence-based policy formulation.
CHALLENGES
Digital Divide
- Variations in internet access and digital literacy.
Awareness Gaps
- Many farmers remain unaware of digital advisory services.
Language and Regional Diversity
- Need for continuous expansion of localized content.
Infrastructure Constraints
- Connectivity issues in remote and tribal areas.
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