In a significant move for India's agricultural heartland, the Union Budget has announced the launch of Bharat VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources), a multilingual AI tool designed to integrate AgriStack portals and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) package of practices with advanced artificial intelligence systems. This development brings the focus squarely back on Uttar Pradesh, the nation's largest producer of food grains, where the initiative is poised to make a transformative impact.
AgriStack Coverage and Implementation Goals
Official sources within the Uttar Pradesh agriculture department reveal that approximately 70% of the state's farmers are already enrolled under the AgriStack scheme. This program provides dedicated farmer IDs, facilitating access to critical benefits such as PM-KISAN, Kisan Credit Cards, crop insurance, and various other agricultural support schemes. Principal Secretary of Agriculture, Ravindra, emphasized the state's commitment to expanding this coverage, stating, "We aim to cover a maximum number of farmers under the AgriStack scheme in the coming days." This expansion is expected to directly enhance the implementation of Bharat VISTAAR, which will offer customized advisory support to help farmers make informed decisions regarding crops, weather patterns, and market trends.
Bridging Research and Farm-Level Adoption
Agricultural experts highlight that the integration of ICAR's scientifically validated agricultural practices with AI systems has the potential to bridge a long-standing gap between research institutions and on-ground farm adoption. For Uttar Pradesh, characterized by diverse agro-climatic zones and a predominance of small and marginal farmers, this integration could lead to more localized crop advisories, improved input management, effective pest control guidance, and the promotion of climate-resilient farming practices.
Digitization and Data Collection Advances
Concurrently, the digitization of crop survey (DCS) processes in Uttar Pradesh has reached advanced stages. The state has transitioned to the DCS system, popularly known as e-Padtal, which replaces traditional manual recording with real-time, technology-driven data collection. The agriculture department has successfully conducted this survey across all 75 districts, covering over 4.5 crore plots. A senior official noted that Bharat VISTAAR is anticipated to further boost farm productivity in Uttar Pradesh, which already leads as the largest producer of wheat, contributing over 30% to the national output.
Economic Context and Challenges
The agriculture sector contributes around 17% to Uttar Pradesh's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Despite achieving record outputs, the Economic Survey 2025-26 points out that the state's yield per hectare for rice remains below the national average, attributed to factors such as unseasonal rains and heat stress. Additionally, a staggering 93% of farmers in Uttar Pradesh are marginal or small, with average landholdings of just 0.40 hectares, which significantly limits their capacity for investment in modern farming techniques.
Focus on Small and Marginal Farmers
The Centre's emphasis on increasing farmer income through enhanced productivity and entrepreneurship, with special attention to small and marginal farmers, holds particular significance for Uttar Pradesh. More than 90% of the state's farmers fall into these categories, owning small landholdings that restrict income potential from traditional farming alone. In alignment with these goals, World Bank-supported projects in Uttar Pradesh have also aimed to boost crop productivity by promoting mechanization, improved seed varieties, and the adoption of digital tools.
As Bharat VISTAAR rolls out, its success in Uttar Pradesh could serve as a model for agricultural transformation across India, leveraging AI to empower farmers and drive sustainable growth in the sector.
