The Union Budget 2026, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, introduced "Bharat Vistar" (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources), a multilingual AI tool poised to revolutionize Indian agriculture. This initiative aims to empower farmers with customized, real-time advisory support, enhancing farm productivity, and mitigating risks.
Bharat Vistar integrates AgriStack digital records with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) package of practices, leveraging AI systems to deliver tailored guidance on critical aspects of farming. These include weather patterns, soil health, and pest management. The tool will initially launch in Hindi and English, with plans to incorporate various regional languages to ensure accessibility for farmers across the country.
The government has allocated ₹150 crore for the Bharat Vistar initiative for the 2026-27 financial year. This investment underscores the government's commitment to upgrading farm practices and enhancing livelihood prospects in rural India. The allocation is part of a broader commitment to the agriculture sector, with a total of ₹1.63 lakh crore earmarked for agricultural initiatives. This represents a 2.6% increase compared to the previous year's allocation.
The introduction of Bharat Vistar aligns with the Union Budget 2026's vision of transforming Indian agriculture through technology-led resilience, diversification, and income enhancement. By providing farmers with access to real-time information and customized advice, the AI tool can enable them to make data-driven decisions regarding crop planning, resource management, and risk mitigation.
In addition to Bharat Vistar, the Union Budget 2026 includes several other initiatives aimed at supporting the agriculture sector and improving the livelihoods of farmers. These include programs dedicated to high-value crops like coconut, cashew, cocoa, and sandalwood, as well as credit support for livestock and fisheries value chains. The budget also proposes to spend ₹1.30 lakh crore for the agriculture sector in 2026-27.
The Union Budget 2026 also emphasizes the importance of diversification in farm outputs to increase productivity, enhance farmers' incomes, and create new employment opportunities. To this end, the government will support high-value crops such as coconut, sandalwood, cocoa, and cashew in coastal areas, agar trees in the Northeast, and nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts in hilly regions.
The introduction of Bharat Vistar and other agriculture-focused initiatives in the Union Budget 2026 reflects the government's commitment to modernizing the agriculture sector, empowering farmers, and promoting sustainable rural development. By leveraging technology and innovation, these initiatives have the potential to transform Indian agriculture and improve the lives of millions of farmers across the country.