AI advisory platform to be launched for farmers in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Months after the Maharashtra Agriculture Artificial Intelligence Policy 2025–2029 was launched, the State government working on platforms like AI-based agri data exchange - MahaAgriX, AI-enabled traceability systems, AI-based geospatial intelligence engine and farmer-centric AI advisory platform – MahaVistar.

“To implement this policy, an institutional center for Artificial Intelligence and Agritech Innovation has been established. The government has approved Rs 500 crore in the first phase for its implementation,” state Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne said.

To ensure that farmers in Maharashtra gain access to global technologies through Artificial Intelligence and adopt innovative technologies in agriculture, the State is hosting “Global Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture and Investment Summit” (AI for Agri 2026) has been organized on February 22 and 23 at the Jio World Convention Centre at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.

Global agricultural experts, startups in agriculture and allied sectors, investors, and financial institutions will participate in the event, said Bharne, who was accompanied Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Vikas Chandra Rastogi and Agriculture Commissioner Suraj Mandhare.

Bharne stated that AI for Agri 2026 marks a significant milestone in Maharashtra’s agricultural development journey.

The conference is being organised in collaboration with global and national partners including the World Economic Forum (WEF), FAO, UNDP, IFAD, World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).

“This initiative is a major step toward implementing the Maharashtra Agriculture–Artificial Intelligence Policy 2025–2029. The policy was shaped under the guidance of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, while inspiration to integrate modern technology in agriculture came from the visionary leadership of the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar,” said Bharne.

The conference will serve as a platform for startups, investors, and financial institutions in agriculture and allied sectors.

Participants will include policymakers, international organizations, scientists, academic institutions, technology leaders, startups, investors, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and representatives of farming communities.

Prominent participants include Nandan Nilekani, Chairman and Co-founder of Infosys and Founding Chairman of UIDAI (Aadhaar), Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of MSSRF, J. Satyanarayana, Chief Advisor, C4IR India, World Economic Forum, senior officials from Central and State governments and international experts from multilateral institutions, academia, NGOs, industry, and startup ecosystems.