Chouhan described the platform as a major step toward bringing the benefits of Digital India to rural communities.

Digital Push for Agriculture: Shivraj Chouhan Rolls Out AI-Driven Bharat-VISTAAR Service

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday introduced Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources), an AI-driven multilingual platform aimed at providing real-time and personalised advisory services to farmers.

Launched in Rajasthan, the initiative is designed to make farmers better informed and digitally empowered. Through a single phone call, farmers will be able to access crop-specific scientific guidance, mandi prices, weather updates and other essential agricultural information.

Chouhan described the platform as a major step toward bringing the benefits of Digital India to rural communities. He said increasing farmers’ income requires connecting agriculture with allied sectors like animal husbandry, supported by modern technology.

The government plans to benefit over 140 million farmers, especially those in rural and low-literacy regions, by reducing the digital divide. The AI-based system aims to improve decision-making, minimise risks, increase profitability and encourage sustainable farming practices.

Announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Bharat-VISTAAR integrates data from AgriStack portals, ICAR recommendations, IMD weather updates, market prices, pest alerts, soil health records and government schemes into one platform.

The service is voice-first, allowing farmers to access it without smartphones via a helpline. It also includes chatbot and web-based support, with an Android app expected soon.

Source: The Tribune