Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 17: In a significant step towards integrating artificial intelligence with agriculture, the Centre will launch Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) on Tuesday, aiming to provide farmers across the country with real-time, multilingual advisory support.
The AI-enabled platform will be launched by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan along with Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
Designed to function round the clock, Bharat-VISTAAR will enable farmers to access essential agricultural information through mobile phones or even via a simple phone call. Officials stated that the system is powered by advanced AI technology and has been developed to deliver practical solutions to farmers’ concerns in their own languages.
The platform will provide advisory guidelines, weather forecasts, and updates on prevailing market prices of agricultural produce. An AI assistant named ‘Bharati’ has been integrated into the system, while a dedicated helpline number has also been made operational to ensure seamless accessibility.
Sources said the system incorporates comprehensive information related to ten major flagship Central government schemes, including PM-KISAN, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card Scheme, and the Kisan Credit Card scheme.
The initiative was first announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech for 2026–27, reflecting the government’s emphasis on leveraging technology to strengthen the agricultural ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is set to utilise the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi to unveil three new international AI initiatives aimed at supporting developing nations. The projects, backed by £58 million under the AI for Development (AI4D) programme, were conceptualised following the AI Safety Summit held in the UK in 2023 and will be implemented in partnership with Canada.
With Bharat-VISTAAR and global AI collaborations gaining momentum, artificial intelligence is poised to play a transformative role in agriculture and inclusive development.