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Bharat-VISTAAR AI Platform Launched for Farmers

 

Jaipur, February 17: India’s agriculture sector is set to witness a digital transformation with the launch of ‘Bharat-VISTAAR’, an AI-powered platform designed to provide 24×7 smart assistance to farmers across the country. The national rollout (Phase-1) will take place on February 17 in Jaipur under the leadership of Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Developed under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Bharat-VISTAAR is envisioned as a farmer-centric Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the agriculture sector. Much like UPI revolutionised digital payments, this AI system aims to integrate scattered agricultural services into one unified digital gateway.

The platform will provide information on weather forecasts, mandi prices, crop and livestock advisory, pest and disease alerts, soil health, and major government schemes all accessible through phone calls, chatbot services, and a mobile application.

Launch Ceremony in Jaipur

The launch event will be held at the State Institute of Agricultural Management, Durgapura, Jaipur, at 10 a.m. Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma will join Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the ceremony.

Union Ministers of State for Agriculture Shri Bhagirath Choudhary and Shri Ram Nath Thakur, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Shri Kirodi Lal Meena, senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, and representatives from agricultural institutions will also be present. Lakhs of farmers are expected to participate virtually through networks of ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and agricultural universities.

What Bharat-VISTAAR Offers

At launch, Bharat-VISTAAR will integrate real-time weather updates from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), market rates from AgMarkNet, pest surveillance data from the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS), and scheme-related services including PM-KISAN, PMFBY, Soil Health Card, Kisan Credit Card, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, and others.

Farmers can check benefit status, register complaints for PM-KISAN, track applications, and receive scientific advice based on ICAR’s Package of Practices and Soil Health Cards. This reduces dependence on multiple portals and eliminates the need for repeated office visits.

Voice-First AI for Every Farmer

One of the platform’s standout features is its Voice-First AI assistant named ‘Bharati’. Farmers, including those using basic feature phones, can dial 155261 to access advisory services. The AI assistant can answer queries in simple language through voice interaction.

The chatbot is currently available in Hindi and English, and farmers can also access the service through a web interface and Android app. This ensures digital inclusion even in remote rural areas with limited smartphone penetration.

State Integration and Expansion Plans

In Phase-1, states such as Maharashtra, Bihar, and Gujarat are integrated into the system through their respective AI platforms. Over the next three months, the service will expand to Tamil, Bengali, Assamese, and Kannada languages.

Within six months, Bharat-VISTAAR aims to operate in 11 languages, covering English, Hindi, and nine regional languages. By May 2026, all central schemes will be fully integrated for eligibility checks, applications, benefit tracking, and grievance redressal.

Officials say the plug-and-play model will allow states to connect their own agricultural systems seamlessly, creating a nationwide digital agriculture network.

AI Roadmap and Future Innovations

Alongside the platform launch, the ‘AI for Agriculture Roadmap’ will be unveiled. Announcements regarding an ‘AI Hackathon’ and ‘AgriKosh’ are also scheduled, encouraging innovation and collaboration in agri-tech solutions.

Experts believe Bharat-VISTAAR marks a major shift toward precision farming and data-driven decision-making. By delivering personalised, location-specific advice, the platform aims to improve productivity, reduce losses, and strengthen farmer incomes.

A Step Towards Digital Farming Revolution

Bharat-VISTAAR represents a strategic move to connect fields and farmers with artificial intelligence. With verified data sources, multilingual support, and 24×7 accessibility, the government hopes to create a reliable digital companion for India’s farming community.

If implemented effectively, the initiative could significantly reduce information gaps and empower farmers with timely, actionable insights ushering in what officials describe as an AI-driven agricultural revolution.

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