Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is set to launch the Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) service at the AI Impact Summit 2026. This innovative, multilingual platform utilizes AI to provide personalized agricultural advice directly to farmers via a simple phone call. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman previously introduced this tool in the Union Budget 2026-27, bringing together data from various sources like AgriStack, ICAR, and IMD into a user-friendly ecosystem. Farmers can access it 24/7 through a dedicated helpline (155261), available in over 22 languages, enabling instant guidance on crop health, market prices, and more. Bharat-VISTAAR aims to support over 140 million farmers, especially in rural areas, enhancing decision-making and promoting sustainable practices. With Rs 150 crore allocated for its development, the launch focuses initially on state-specific farmers, with plans for rapid expansion. For access, farmers can call 155261 or visit vistaar.da.gov.in.
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