Govi Mithuru: Sri Lanka’s First AI-Powered Farming Assistant
▼ Summary
– Dialog Axiata PLC has launched AI-driven features for its Govi Mithuru platform, making it Sri Lanka’s first AI-powered digital companion for farmers and home gardeners.
– The platform includes an AI Chat and Voice Bot that provide real-time, expert-verified agricultural guidance in Sinhala, Tamil, or English through the app.
– A new image-based tool allows farmers to upload crop photos for instant AI-generated pest and disease diagnoses and treatment recommendations.
– For users without smartphones, a bilingual AI Voice Assistant via the 616 IVR service offers instant farming advice in Sinhala or Tamil to ensure inclusivity.
– These AI enhancements aim to provide personalized, real-time advice to improve livelihoods, promote sustainable farming, and strengthen digital inclusion in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector has entered a new technological era with the launch of artificial intelligence capabilities within the Govi Mithuru platform. Developed by Dialog Axiata PLC, this enhanced digital tool now functions as the nation’s first comprehensive AI-powered farming assistant, offering multiple ways for farmers and home gardeners to access expert agricultural guidance.
The upgraded platform introduces several groundbreaking features designed to make farming support more accessible and effective. Users can now interact with a trilingual AI chat and voice bot available in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, receiving immediate answers to their agricultural questions. Another significant innovation allows farmers to photograph affected crops and receive instant AI-generated diagnoses for pests and diseases along with treatment recommendations. Both these advanced services will be available without charge during the initial three-month period.
Understanding that smartphone access remains limited in some regions, Dialog has implemented an inclusive solution through their Govi Mithuru 616 interactive voice response service. This bilingual AI voice assistant enables farmers using basic mobile phones to call and receive immediate farming advice in either Sinhala or Tamil, effectively bridging the digital divide for rural communities.
Since its original introduction in 2015, Govi Mithuru has established itself as Sri Lanka’s most reliable agricultural advisory service, supporting cultivation of more than thirty-two different crops. The platform provides comprehensive guidance covering Good Agricultural Practices certification, future crop planning strategies, and practical farming techniques. It serves both commercial agricultural operations and small-scale home gardens, contributing to reduced crop losses, improved productivity, and enhanced national food security.
Asanga Priyadarshana, Group Chief Corporate Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC, emphasized the company’s vision behind these technological enhancements. “Our mission focuses on empowering all Sri Lankans through innovative technology, and these AI advancements in Govi Mithuru represent a significant step toward realizing smart farming’s full potential. The integration of artificial intelligence enables us to deliver personalized, real-time agricultural advice that can genuinely transform livelihoods while supporting sustainable sector growth.”
Farmers interested in accessing these new capabilities can download the Govi Mithuru application through the Google Play Store or simply dial 616 to connect with the AI-powered voice assistant. These developments reinforce Dialog’s ongoing commitment to advancing digital inclusion, promoting sustainable agricultural methods, and strengthening community resilience across Sri Lanka.
(Source: MEA Tech Watch)