A Landmark AI-Driven Farming Policy
In a transformative step for Indian agriculture, the Government of Maharashtra has unveiled its flagship initiative: the MahaAgri-AI Policy (2025–2029). With an initial allocation of ₹500 crore, this pioneering policy positions Maharashtra as the first Indian state to adopt a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) roadmap for agriculture.
The policy’s mission is clear: make farming smart, data-driven, and farmer-centric. It aims to tackle key issues such as:
- Declining productivity
- Water scarcity
- Climate variability
- Market inefficiencies
The goal? Use AI, robotics, IoT, drones, and geospatial tech to help farmers make smarter decisions and secure better yields.
What the MahaAgri-AI Policy Includes
Here are the main pillars of the strategy:
🔹 Agri Data Exchange (ADeX): A consent-based data platform for farmers, startups, and policymakers.
🔹 AI Sandbox Environment: To test AgriTech solutions in near-real conditions.
🔹 Vistaar Chatbot: A multilingual voice-based chatbot delivering real-time crop and weather advice (including in Marathi).
🔹 Blockchain-based traceability: Ensuring farm-to-fork quality checks with QR codes, initially for grapes, pomegranates, and bananas.
🔹 Remote sensing & yield mapping: AI models using satellites and drones to predict yield, rainfall, pest outbreaks, and waterbody status.
It will also fund the creation of:
- AI Research & Innovation Centres across 4 major Agricultural Universities.
- A dedicated AI & Agritech Innovation Hub.
- An annual Global AI in Agriculture Conference to attract investors and global AgriTech leaders.
Success on the Ground: ADT Baramati + Microsoft Pilot
Maharashtra’s vision isn’t just theoretical—it’s already in action.
In Baramati, the Agricultural Development Trust (ADT), in collaboration with Microsoft, launched a game-changing pilot using the FarmVibes.AI platform through the Agripilot.ai app.
Technology used:
- Smart weather stations
- Soil nutrient and moisture sensors
- Satellite and drone data
- AI-based predictive dashboards
Farmers received daily alerts in Marathi like:
“Skip irrigation today — expected rain,” or “Time to apply pesticide — pest risk high.”
Measurable results:
- 30–40% increase in crop yield (especially sugarcane)
- 20% more sucrose in the final produce
- 25% reduction in fertiliser usage
- 8% savings in irrigation water
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella called this initiative “phenomenal” during a recent keynote, highlighting it as a global AgriTech success story.
Real Farmers, Real Transformation
Farmers like Suresh Jagtap, who participated in the pilot, said:
“Earlier, I guessed when to irrigate or spray pesticides. Now, my phone tells me exactly when and why. My crops are greener, and I spend less.”
Other farmer benefits:
- Early detection of Brown Rust and other fungal issues
- Better scheduling of sowing and harvesting
- Improved planning for crop insurance and market selling
Scaling AI Across Maharashtra
From ~1,000 farmers in Baramati, the government plans to scale this program to 50,000+ farmers across drought-prone and climate-sensitive regions.
Policy budget allocation includes:
- ₹150 cr – Digital public infrastructure
- ₹100 cr – Research and capacity building
- ₹100 cr – Innovation grants and hackathons
- ₹150 cr – District-level pilot deployment + training
A mid-term review will be held in 2027 for course correction and scalability.
Final Take: The Future Is Digital, and It’s in the Field
Maharashtra’s investment in AI for farming is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. From water-smart irrigation to weather-informed spraying, AI is empowering farmers with tools once unimaginable.
And most importantly, this isn’t replacing the farmer—it’s elevating them.
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