The Aryavarth Express
Jaipur (Rajasthan): Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan arrived in Jaipur on Tuesday to launch ‘Bharat-VISTAAR’, a new AI-powered digital platform designed to support farmers across the country.
The platform will be inaugurated in the presence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Bharat-VISTAAR is an AI-based digital companion that will provide farmers with comprehensive information on weather forecasts, market prices, pest and disease management, soil health, crop advisory services, and major government schemes. The service will be accessible through phone calls, chatbots, and later via a mobile application.
Phase-Wise Rollout
In its first phase, the platform will operate in Hindi and English, reaching lakhs of farmers in states including Maharashtra, Bihar, and Gujarat. Farmers from across the country will also participate virtually in the launch event through networks of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), agricultural universities, and state agriculture departments.
During the event, Chouhan and Sharma will also unveil the ‘AI for Agriculture Roadmap’. Announcements regarding an ‘AI Hackathon’ and ‘AgriKosh’ initiative are expected as part of the programme.
Voice-First AI Platform
Bharat-VISTAAR has been developed as a voice-first AI platform to ensure accessibility even for farmers using basic feature phones. The helpline number 155261 has been integrated with the system, enabling farmers to receive information through voice-based interaction. The platform will also offer website and chatbot facilities, with an Android app to be launched subsequently.
The initiative aims to create a farmer-centric digital public infrastructure by integrating data from government and scientific institutions, providing reliable, real-time information at one place.
The launch ceremony will also be attended by Union Ministers of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary and Ram Nath Thakur, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, Members of Parliament, MLAs, and senior officials from the central and state governments.
