Fact of the Week: AI Has Improved Monsoon Forecast Accuracy in India by 20 Percent
Source: Mohamed Elbashir and Kishore Balaji Desikachari, “India’s Path to AI Autonomy,” (Atlantic Council, March 13, 2025).
Commentary: The Indian government is making a concerted effort to make India one of the global leaders in AI, building upon its large, skilled workforce, young and growing population, and developing network of broadband and digital infrastructure. Its new policy initiative, AI for India 2030, forms a blueprint for encouraging innovation and adoption of AI in key sectors, with the aim of adding $500 billion to the economy by 2030. The agriculture industry is one of those key sectors. Close to 50 percent of India’s workforce is employed in agriculture; however, it is incredibly inefficient, with 40 percent of food production lost to inefficient supply chains. Several agriculture-related programs have deployed AI with the hope of increasing efficiency and productivity, including the Indian Meteorological Department. By utilizing AI for monsoon forecasting, the department has increased its accuracy by 20 percent, which has had a positive impact on agricultural planning and crop yields.
