17 February 2026
The Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched Bharat-VISTAAR (Value-Integrated System for Technology, Advisory, and Agricultural Resilience), an AI-powered multilingual tool designed to provide information to farmers in their own language via mobile or a simple phone callat a national event held yesterday in Jaipur. The initiative aims to strengthen India’s agricultural extension system through digital technologies, data-driven advisories, and real-time information delivery to farmers.
Bharat-VISTAAR is designed as a comprehensive platform to provide scientific guidance, weather-based advisories, market intelligence, and best farming practices, thereby enhancing productivity, sustainability, and farmers’ income security.
ICAR institutes across the country organised live webcasting of the launch at their respective campuses, enabling scientists, staff, students, and stakeholders to participate simultaneously. This pan-India effort highlighted the role of ICAR’s network in disseminating national initiatives and advancing technology-enabled, farmer-centric agricultural services.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar
ICAR–Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar, organised the live webcast of the national launch programme, followed by a Farmer–Scientist Interaction Meet and a Farmers’ Exposure Visit.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. R.K. Panda, Director (I/C), stated that Bharat-VISTAAR will function as a 24×7 “digital agriculture expert,” delivering services through two distinct modes.
The event was attended by over 110 participants, including farmers, farm women, research scholars, and institute staff.
ICAR–Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad
Dr. C. Tara Satyavathi, Director, ICAR–IIMR, guided and oversaw the institute’s participation in the live telecast of the national launch programme. She highlighted the growing importance of AI-enabled Digital Public Infrastructure in transforming the agricultural landscape, particularly in advancing millet research, climate-resilient farming, and end-to-end value-chain development. She emphasized that platforms such as Bharat-VISTAAR would play a pivotal role in empowering nutri-cereal farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and agri-startups by improving access to real-time advisories, digital traceability systems, convergence of government schemes, and enhanced market linkages.
Scientists, technical officers, administrative staff, and project personnel actively participated in the session. Students undergoing specialized training programmes at the institute under the GCoE–SCSP project also attended the live event. ICAR–IIMR reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging digital agriculture innovations and AI-driven platforms to support farmers, FPOs, startups, and agri-entrepreneurs, thereby promoting sustainable, resilient, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture in India.
ICAR–Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad
ICAR–CRIDA in collaboration with ICAR–CRIDA Krishi Vigyan Kendra, jointly organised the live telecast of the launch of Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual AI-based conversational advisory system.
The event witnessed the participation of around 110 viewers, including institute staff and farmers. The programme was organised to observe the landmark launch and to enhance awareness about the role of artificial intelligence in strengthening agricultural advisory services in India.
ICAR–National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland
The Phase–I National Launch of the Bharat-VISTAAR Initiative was successfully organised at the ICAR–National Research Centre on Mithun, with the participation of 67 stakeholders, including 42 male and 25 female participants comprising farmers, SHG members, and agricultural functionaries.
The programme highlighted the objectives, key features, and benefits of the AI-enabled platform designed to strengthen digital extension services and last-mile agricultural advisories. An interactive session conducted in Nagamese facilitated better understanding and encouraged participants to raise queries, which were addressed comprehensively, making the event highly informative and impactful.
(Source: Respective ICAR Institutes)
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