Jaipur, February 17, 2026:
In a major step toward digital transformation in Indian agriculture, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the AI-based “Bharat-VISTAAR” Phase 1 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, even as the national AI Summit was underway in Delhi.

The launch event was attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma along with senior officials and agricultural leaders. During the program, the Minister also unveiled the Farmer-Centric AI Hackathon and the Agri Kosh AI Strategy Roadmap.

AI-Powered Support for Farmers

Bharat-VISTAAR is an Artificial Intelligence-driven digital platform designed to provide instant agricultural solutions to farmers. By dialing 155261, farmers can ask questions and receive immediate responses in their local language. Initially available in Hindi and English, the platform will soon expand to 11 regional languages.

The system allows farmers to:

• Access real-time mandi (market) prices

• Get crop advisory and weather updates

• Obtain information on government schemes

• Receive guidance on seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, and soil health

The helpline ensures that even farmers using basic mobile phones can benefit from AI-powered advisory services.

Integration with National Agriculture Systems

Bharat-VISTAAR integrates key agricultural resources including:

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

• India Meteorological Department (IMD)

• AgriStack digital infrastructure

• PM Fasal Bima Yojana

• Soil Health Card Scheme

• Mandi price systems and state agriculture platforms

The platform aims to unify multiple services into a single AI-enabled system, increasing productivity and reducing risks for farmers.

Focus on Farmer Identity & Welfare

The Minister announced the creation of a Farmer ID (Kisan Pehchan Patra), which will digitally store comprehensive farmer data to streamline benefits and scheme access. The initiative is part of the government’s broader mission to modernize agriculture and empower farmers through technology.

Political Remarks and Policy Debate

During his address, Shivraj Singh Chouhan raised five questions to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding alleged irregularities in agricultural policies during the UPA government.

He questioned why the UPA had declined to implement the Swaminathan Commission recommendation of fixing MSP at 50% profit over cost. He highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government implemented MSP at 50% above production cost and introduced an expanded ration distribution model to strengthen food security.

The Minister also referred to past incidents related to grain exports and food pricing, asserting that the current government prioritizes domestic food security and farmer welfare.

Rajasthan’s Vision for Developed India 2047

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma emphasized that a “Developed India 2047” vision depends on prosperous farmers. He stated that AI-based agriculture solutions like Bharat-VISTAAR will make farmers self-reliant and technologically empowered.

A Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture

Bharat-VISTAAR represents India’s push toward AI-driven digital public infrastructure for agriculture. The platform aims to deliver multilingual, conversational advisory services, helping farmers access services, insurance, credit, mandi prices, and weather data through one unified digital ecosystem.

Officials including Dr. M. L. Jat, Director General of ICAR, senior ministry secretaries, and state representatives participated in the event physically and via video conferencing.

With Bharat-VISTAAR, the government aims to usher in a new era of smart farming — where farmers can simply “Ask and Get Direct Answers” through technology.