ITC’s AI-Powered ‘Crop Doctor’ Supports Plant Health Across 70 Crops

New Delhi, 13 May, 2026: ITC Limited has said its AI-powered ‘Crop Doctor’ feature under the ITCMAARS platform is helping farmers identify plant diseases and pest infestations across up to 70 crops through real-time image-based diagnostics.

The announcement coincides with the International Day of Plant Health, observed globally under the theme “Plant Biosecurity for Food Security,” promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

According to ITC, the Crop Doctor feature uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)-based image analytics to detect crop health issues and recommend customised remedial actions. The tool, available through the ITCMAARS super app, has reportedly been used over three lakh times.

The platform provides recommendations on chemical, biological, and mechanical crop management practices in regional languages through both text and audio formats. Farmers can also access direct support from ITC’s agri experts through toll-free regional language helplines.

Launched in 2022, ITCMAARS has evolved into a full-stack Farming as a Service (FaaS) ecosystem integrating digital technologies with on-ground farmer producer organisations (FPOs). The company said the platform currently supports around 2.5 million farmers and 2,180 FPOs across 11 states. Pilot estimates cited by ITC suggest that the initiative has contributed to a 10–15% reduction in fertiliser use and a 15–20% increase in crop yields, resulting in approximately 25% improvement in farm incomes.

Mr. S Ganesh Kumar, Chief Executive, Agri Business Division, ITC Ltd., said, “Plant health and food security are deeply interconnected, especially in the context of climate change and pest risks. Comprehensive interventions for soil health, agri inputs and weather alerts across sowing to harvesting are critical in ensuring good plant health. Through our integrated ITCMAARS phygital ecosystem and powered by its unique tech-enabled solutions including the ‘Crop Doctor’ and expert on-ground customized advisories, we are committed to helping farmers with accessible, science-led solutions that support early detection, preventive action and sustainable crop management. Our endeavour is to strengthen farm resilience while improving productivity and farmer livelihoods.”

The ITCMAARS ecosystem also includes tools such as Crop Calendar, Fertiliser Calculator, and ‘Krishi Mitra’, an AI-powered agri co-pilot developed with Microsoft. The company said these tools support precision farming, crop planning, nutrient management, and farmer access to information on weather, government schemes, and market prices.