AI to help Maharashtra farmers

The Business Factors News Desk

Mumbai, May 22, 2025: Ahead of the Kharif season, the Maharashtra government plans to leverage technology to aid farmers. The plan, discussed during a state-level Kharif season review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, includes digitising agricultural information and integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) that farmers can access through ‘Mahavistar App’ and ‘Digital Sheti Shala’.

Fadnavis outlined how AI could help answer all the questions concerning farming activities, be it sowing the seed or implementing new techniques to increase the produce, a report by The Hindu bureau said.

The Maharashtra CM mentioned platforms, including Digital Sheti Shala, which will help farmers learn new techniques and other information on farming. The government also intends to start a Mahavistar App, having information and videos on farming methods, stages of farming for various crops, and other information.

“The App will have AI integration and a chatbot that will play the role of a digital friend. We will soon bring that chatbot to WhatsApp as well. It will also show the prices of commodities in real time,” Fadnavis said.

He appealed to farmers to use digital platforms and adopt modern techniques while implementing farming activities. 
As the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall across Maharashtra, Fadnavis has instructed officials to ensure that farmers receive seeds and fertiliser on time and that all the farming schemes are active. DCM Eknath Shinde, Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, and other senior officials also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the common complaints raised by farmers were also discussed. Highlighting a few issues, Fadnavis said, “We have started a campaign against the linking (coercing farmers to buy additional products along with fertilisers), besides setting up a system to trace bogus seed supply and provide truthful seeds.” 

The Maharashtra government appealed for registration of seeds on the SATHI portal in order to fight bogus seeds. “For the first time, it will help fight bogus seeds as we will be able to trace where it was grown and take action on the person,” Fadnavis said, adding that for linking complaints, every agriculture centre across the State will have a poster with a complaint number. If the companies are found guilty, the charges will be pressed under the Essential Commodities Act.