Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra highlighted the state’s efforts to enhance overall prosperity in the agriculture sector through Artificial Intelligence (AI), focusing on aspects like food security, climate resilience, and women’s empowerment. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit-2026, he stressed the need for widespread implementation of AI beyond mere discussions and exhibitions. Fadnavis expressed readiness for collaboration with the Centre, global research institutions, and investors to leverage technology for the benefit of farmers.
Global challenges in agriculture, including food insecurity, climate uncertainties, and market volatility, were underscored by the Chief Minister. He emphasized the significant role AI can play in addressing these issues, stating that for many countries, agriculture is not just an economic concern but a critical aspect of food security and national stability. Fadnavis also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on integrating technology into agriculture to ensure inclusivity and efficient service delivery.
While acknowledging the potential of AI in agriculture, Fadnavis cautioned against viewing it as a panacea, echoing PM Modi’s emphasis on the importance of trustworthy data, governance, and accountability in AI models. He outlined Maharashtra’s Maha-Agri AI Policy, designed to ensure technology accessibility for millions of farmers through features like personalized advisory services, real-time market updates, and climate alerts. The state aims to harness AI for testing, integration, and crop monitoring, consolidating agricultural data for the welfare of farmers.
Union Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi commended Maharashtra’s initiatives in the AI sector, particularly highlighting the Farmer ID and Digital Crop Survey programs. He lauded the state’s ‘Maha-Vistar’ platform, integrated with India-Vistar, which offers comprehensive guidance from seed to market. Currently available in English and Hindi, the platform is set to expand to all regional languages, aiming to enhance accessibility and inclusivity for farmers.
