Govt Launches AI-Powered Bharat-VISTAAR Platform to Provide Real-Time Advisory to Farmers

Ziraat Times Team Report

New Delhi, Mar 14: The Government of India has launched the first phase of Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources), an artificial intelligence-powered digital platform aimed at providing farmers with real-time, personalised agricultural advisories and access to multiple government services.

The initiative, announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, has been allocated ₹150 crore to develop a nationwide digital public infrastructure for agriculture.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Bhagirath Choudhary said the platform is designed as a multilingual, voice-first AI system that integrates various government digital ecosystems and scientific agricultural knowledge to assist farmers with crop planning and management.

AI-driven advisory system for farmers

According to the government, Bharat-VISTAAR will provide farmers with location-specific, real-time information on crop management, weather forecasts, pest and disease alerts, soil health insights, and market prices.

The system draws on agricultural research and best practices developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and other institutions.

Phase-I launched in February

The Phase-I version of the platform was launched on February 17, 2026. It is currently available in Hindi and English and can be accessed through multiple channels, including:

• A dedicated helpline number 155261

• A voice-based AI chatbot

• A web portal hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (India)

• A downloadable mobile application

The platform has been designed to function even for farmers without smartphones through voice-based and Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) services, ensuring accessibility for small and marginal farmers.

Integration with major farm schemes

During the first phase, the platform integrates 10 major central agricultural schemes, including:

• PM-KISAN

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

• Soil Health Card Scheme

• Kisan Credit Card

• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana

• PM-AASHA

• Modified Interest Subvention Scheme

• Per Drop More Crop

• Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization

Expansion planned in multiple languages

The government plans to expand the platform to four additional languages within the next three months and five more languages within six months, enabling wider adoption across states.

Officials said the system will also be gradually expanded to include state-specific agricultural schemes, extension networks, and digital awareness programmes to encourage farmers to adopt digital services.

Data security safeguards

The government said the platform has been developed in compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and follows cybersecurity guidelines issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (India) and Computer Emergency Response Team-India.

Periodic security audits are also conducted to ensure data protection and system integrity.

Officials said Bharat-VISTAAR aims to become a unified digital ecosystem for agriculture, enabling farmers to access government schemes, scientific advice, and market information through a single integrated platform.