AI to warn Azerbaijani farmers of disease and pest risks 72 hours ahead

Farmers in Azerbaijan will be warned about the risks of crop diseases and pest outbreaks 72 hours in advance using artificial intelligence (AI), Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Azerbaijan Ilhama Gadimova said at a panel session held as part of Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026), Report informs.

According to her, weather forecasting data is currently provided by 151 climate stations, with 30 more stations planned for installation. This will bring the total number of climate stations to 181.

She noted that the Ministry of Agriculture's AI application program includes monitoring the condition of agricultural crops, assessing the risks of diseases and pest outbreaks, forecasting yields and water requirements, as well as irrigation management.

"Our crop condition monitoring system is designed to warn farmers in advance, 72 hours ahead. Taking into account the crop being cultivated, the system can identify potential risks of diseases and pest outbreaks before they reach a critical level," Gadimova said.

The deputy minister emphasized that agriculture as a whole is moving from general information to targeted recommendations, from monitoring to forecasting, and from responding to losses to preventing them.