In the Union Budget 2026-27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources), a multilingual AI tool designed to transform Indian agriculture.

The tool integrates AgriStack digital records with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) package of practices to provide customised, real-time advice on weather, soil health, and pest management.

Initially launching in Hindi and English, it will expand to include various regional languages to ensure last-mile connectivity for farmers.

The government has allocated Rs. 150 crore for the initiative for the 2026-27 financial year.

Sunil Kataria, MD & CEO, Godrej Agrovet

“Placing a strong emphasis on productivity, resilience and inclusive growth, the proposals tabled in today’s Union Budget once again reinforce agriculture as a key pillar in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat.

It is also encouraging to see the Government’s focus on leveraging technology-driven agriculture through the introduction of multilingual AI platform. Amidst evolving climate and market conditions, delivering customized and risk-aware advisory at a scale is need of an hour to empower farmers to make informed decisions and adapt better. We also appreciate the extension of tax deduction to primary cooperatives supplying cattle feed and cotton seed to federal cooperatives and government organisations, which will strengthen formal input supply chains and improve farmer realization.

Together, through a calibrated approach by integrates productivity, innovation, inclusion, and institutional support, this year’s Budget once again lays a strong foundation for a future ready agricultural ecosystem and reinforces agriculture’s role as a long term contributor to India’s economic growth.”

Sanjiv Kanwar, Managing Director, Yara South Asia

The Union Budget’s focus on high-value agriculture, improving farm productivity and encouraging entrepreneurship reflects a practical approach to strengthening India’s agricultural ecosystem. Special attention to small and marginal farmers, rural youth and the North-East will help ensure more inclusive and balanced growth across regions.

The introduction of technology-led initiatives like Bharat VISTAAR is also a positive step, as it can help farmers access timely, data-driven insights and adopt better farming practices. The continued emphasis on value addition, support for women-led rural enterprises, and long-term sustainability aligns well with the industry’s focus on responsible fertiliser use and efficient farming systems. Overall, these initiatives move Indian agriculture towards a more productive, technology-enabled and sustainable future.