‘Bharat-VISTAAR’ AI Tool was nationally launched today, i.e., on 17th February 2026 in Jaipur by the Hon’ble Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan in the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan Shri Bhajanlal Sharma. Bharat-VISTAAR’ (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) is a single digital doorway for farmers and is an AI-powered unified digital system that gives farmers scheme information, weather, mandi prices, crop advice, and grievance services in farmers’ own language through mobile or a simple phone call. It is a multilingual AI tool that integrates the AgriStack portals and the ICAR package on agricultural practices with AI systems to enhance farm productivity, improve farmer decision making and reduce risk through customized advisory support, which was proposed in the Union Budget 2026-27. While addressing lakhs of farmers and other stakeholders across the country through hybrid mode, Hon’ble Union Agriculture Minister mentioned that ‘Bharat-VISTAAR’ would enhance farm productivity, lead to better farmer decision making and reduce risk through customized advisory support for the farmer. He added, with ‘Bharat-VISTAAR’, farmers need not depend on different offices, websites, apps, or middlemen to get all such information as it becomes the single source of all relevant information for famers in their own language and through text and voice based conversation. Farmers can get information about 10 major Central schemes including PM-KISAN, PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Soil Health Card (SHC), Per Drop More Crop, PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, PM Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan and Kisan Credit Card. ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneswar organized the Live Webcast of this National Launching programme, followed by a Farmer-Scientist Interaction Meet and Framers’ Exposure Visit, witnessed by over 110 participants including farmers, farm women, and scholars besides staff of the Institute. Addressing the gathering, Dr. R.K. Panda, Director (I/C) mentioned, ‘Bharat-VISTAAR’ will be available 24-hours as a ‘digital agriculture expert’ in two ways. Farmers can access it in three easy ways (i) Mobile App on Google Play Store, (ii) Web interface link (works in a similar manner as an App) and will be available on the websites of the Ministry of Agriculture and (iii) Telephone calls by dialing 155261 (even from a basic phone). At the outset of the programme, Dr. S.K. Mishra, Principal Scientist & Convener welcome the participants and briefed about the programme, while Dr. H.K. Dash Principal Scientist & Co-convener moderated the event and proposed vote of thanks.
