Silchar : In a significant step towards climate-resilient agriculture, Assam University has developed an artificial intelligence-driven system capable of predicting floods and guiding farmers across six Northeastern states with real-time, data-based insights.

The initiative, led by the university’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering, is aimed at addressing the acute vulnerability of agriculture in the region to erratic weather patterns and information gaps. Conceptualised in 2024, the project is funded by the Department of Science and Technology and is being monitored by Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai.

Designed for the Barak River Basin and adjoining areas, the system currently covers Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland-regions where farming is often disrupted by floods and extreme climatic events.

At the core of the project is an AI-based early warning system that uses satellite data analytics and machine learning to forecast floods, extreme weather conditions, and even potential river course changes. By delivering location-specific alerts, the system enables farmers to prepare in advance, reducing crop losses and improving resilience.

Project lead Somnath Mukhopadhyay said the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between prediction and action. “Technology in agriculture often stops at advisories. We wanted to go beyond that by linking prediction, access and action into one integrated system,” he noted.

Field studies conducted across remote villages revealed that lack of timely information-rather than infrastructure-remains the biggest challenge for farmers in the region. “A farmer may know what to grow, but not where to get quality seeds. Information, not infrastructure, is the real bottleneck,” Mukhopadhyay added.

To address this, the team has developed Krishi Vikash, a multilingual, voice-enabled mobile application that functions as a digital companion for farmers. The platform integrates services across the agricultural cycle-from crop recommendations and input sourcing to insurance, credit access, and market linkages, including minimum support price (MSP) information and storage facilities.

The app also consolidates major government schemes such as PM-KISAN and the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund into a single interface, simplifying access for users.

Within a month of its launch, the application has already onboarded over 700 users, with feedback-driven updates being rolled out regularly. The development team is now focused on scaling up the platform and integrating it with government policy frameworks to expand its reach.

Officials say the initiative marks a shift towards data-driven agriculture in the Northeast, with the potential to significantly improve preparedness, productivity, and farmer incomes in a region frequently impacted by climate uncertainties.