Bharat-VISTAAR Explained: How the Government’s AI Tool Will Support Farmers

With a single phone call, a farmer can access real-time weather forecasts, mandi prices, pest alerts, crop guidance and updates on government schemes--all in his own language. That is the ambition behind Bharat-VISTAAR, the government’s new voice-first digital platform for Indian agriculture.

What is Bharat-VISTAAR?

Bharat-VISTAAR is the Government of India’s farmer-centric, AI-powered digital public infrastructure designed to deliver reliable agricultural information by connecting multiple government and scientific sources.

It is positioned as a single, unified digital companion for farmers across the country.

What problem is it trying to solve?

Indian farmers often rely on fragmented sources for weather updates, mandi prices, pest alerts, soil data, crop advisories, and scheme information.

Bharat-VISTAAR aims to bring all of this into one integrated platform so farmers can access timely and verified information in one place. The goal is to reduce information gaps that directly impact sowing decisions, crop protection, and income.

What information will farmers get?

Through Bharat-VISTAAR, farmers will be able to access updates related to weather forecasts, market prices, pest and disease alerts, soil health status, crop management advice, and details of at least ten major central government schemes. The platform consolidates these services so that farmers do not have to navigate multiple departments or portals.

How can farmers access the platform?

Bharat-VISTAAR has been designed as a Voice-First AI system. This means even farmers with a basic feature phone can use it simply by making a call. The dedicated helpline number 155261 has been linked directly to the platform, enabling voice-based input and responses. In addition to the helpline, the system will also be accessible through a website, a mobile site chatbot, and a forthcoming Android application. The emphasis is on accessibility, especially for farmers without smartphones.

When and where is it being launched?

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan arrived in Jaipur for the scheduled launch of Bharat-VISTAAR, which will be held in the presence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. The event also includes the unveiling of an “AI for Agriculture Roadmap” and announcements related to an AI Hackathon and AgriKosh. Lakhs of farmers are expected to join virtually through networks of ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, agricultural universities, and state institutions.

What languages will it support?

In Phase-1, Bharat-VISTAAR will operate in Hindi and English and is expected to reach lakhs of farmers across states including Maharashtra, Bihar, and Gujarat. Language expansion is likely to be a critical factor in nationwide adoption.

Why is Bharat-VISTAAR significant?

Bharat-VISTAAR signals a structured push to embed artificial intelligence into India’s agricultural ecosystem. By combining voice access, AI processing, and multi-source government data, the platform attempts to transform agricultural advisories into a scalable public infrastructure model. If implemented effectively, it could reduce information asymmetry and improve decision-making at the farm level.

(With inputs from ANI)