BASF Digital Farming rolls out new chatbot

Hyderabad BASF Digital Farming has launched a dedicated, free of charge Xarvio Scouting chatbot service in India to aid farmers. The new chatbot service complements the global, market-leading xarvio Scouting smartphone app, which can identify unknown weeds and diseases, analyse nitrogen uptake, and provide leaf damage, crop emergence and yellow trap analysis.

Accessible via a dedicated WhatsApp channel, the chatbot service is offered in 11 languages including English, Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Gujarati, and Telugu. Farmers and advisors do not need to have the Xarvio Scouting app installed to use the chatbot service.

Rajendra Velagala, Director, BASF Agricultural Solutions India, said: "In India, where agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for almost 60 per cent of the population, we hope that our new chatbot service will help improve the lives of farmers by increasing crop quality and yield, at the same time reducing costs and lessening environmental impacts."

Shiva Prakash, xarvio Commercial Lead India, BASF Digital Farming, said: "The chatbot service emphasizes our commitment to fostering sustainable agriculture, by providing farmers and advisors with free and fast access to relevant, precise agronomic information that can make a real difference to their lives and communities."