Bharat VISTAAR transforming AI driven agricultural advisory in India

Launch of Bharat VISTAAR scheme

Bharat VISTAAR transforming AI driven agricultural advisory in India: The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare launched the first phase of Bharat VISTAAR in Rajasthan to strengthen digital agricultural services. The initiative uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide farmers with real-time, accurate, and accessible advisory support. This marks a major step in India’s effort to modernize agriculture using digital infrastructure.

The scheme aligns with India’s broader vision of promoting Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in agriculture. It focuses on improving farmers’ access to timely information related to weather, crop management, and markets.

Static GK fact: The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare functions under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, which is headquartered in New Delhi.

Meaning and core objective

Bharat VISTAAR stands for Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources. Its main objective is to promote the use of India’s AI-powered digital public platforms to support farmers’ agricultural needs. The system integrates multiple agricultural information sources into one unified platform.

The scheme ensures farmers receive advisory services without needing physical visits to agricultural offices. This reduces delays and improves efficiency in agricultural decision-making.

Static GK Tip: India is the second-largest producer of agricultural products globally, after China.

Integration with national agricultural platforms

The Bharat VISTAAR system integrates data from major agricultural platforms such as AgriStack, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and various government agricultural schemes. It also connects with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for weather forecasts and mandi systems for price information.

This integrated approach ensures farmers receive complete and reliable information in one place. It eliminates the need to consult multiple sources separately.

AgriStack plays a central role by providing farmer databases, land records, and digital identities. This allows the AI system to offer personalized and location-specific advisory.

Static GK fact: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was established in 1929 and is the apex body for agricultural research and education in India.

Multilingual AI conversational advisory system

A key feature of Bharat VISTAAR is its multilingual conversational AI system. Farmers can ask questions in their local language and receive instant responses. This improves accessibility, especially for rural farmers who may not be comfortable using English or digital interfaces.

The system works through mobile phones, including feature phones, ensuring even farmers without smartphones can access services. This inclusive design helps bridge the digital divide in rural India.

Farmers can receive information about crop diseases, fertilizer use, weather forecasts, and mandi prices instantly. This helps them make informed agricultural and marketing decisions.

Static GK fact: Agriculture employs nearly 45% of India’s workforce, making it one of the most critical sectors of the economy.

Role in strengthening digital agriculture ecosystem

Bharat VISTAAR supports India’s long-term goal of creating a digitally empowered agricultural ecosystem. By integrating AI with agricultural databases and advisory systems, it improves productivity, reduces risks, and increases farmers’ income potential.

The pilot launch in Rajasthan is expected to be expanded to other states in phases. This expansion will strengthen India’s position in using Artificial Intelligence for agricultural transformation.

The scheme also contributes to achieving national goals related to farmer welfare, food security, and digital governance.

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