
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the state has become the first in India to host a dedicated Artificial Intelligence conference for agriculture. Speaking at the inauguration of AI for Agri 2026 in New Delhi, he said the initiative positions Maharashtra as a national leader in AI‑driven farming transformation.
The event forms part of the state’s Agricultural Artificial Intelligence Policy 2025–2029, aimed at building an integrated digital ecosystem for farmers. The announcement highlighted a series of platforms, partnerships and policy measures designed to advance responsible AI adoption in agriculture.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the Global Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture and Investors’ Summit under the state’s AI Policy 2025–2029. He said the conference marks a significant milestone in Maharashtra’s efforts to leverage emerging technologies for agricultural transformation.
The event brought together universities, research institutions and industry stakeholders under the Maha‑AI Innovation Centre. According to Fadnavis, the objective is to create a digitally empowered ecosystem providing farmers with real‑time support and actionable insights.
Fadnavis announced the expansion of Maha‑Vistar AI, a digital companion platform designed to deliver crop advisory, weather forecasts, pest management tools and market‑linked price information. The platform also provides updates on government schemes to ensure timely access to support measures.
He stated that over 3 million farmers have already accessed the application since its launch. The system includes multilingual and voice‑based features to ensure inclusivity across regions and literacy levels.
The state government has allocated nearly ₹500 crore to implement the AI‑based Agriculture Policy for the 2025–2029 period. The investment will fund the establishment of AI and Agritech Innovation Centres across districts.
These centres will support research, pilot projects and the development of scalable technology solutions. The initiative forms a key part of Maharashtra’s broader strategy to strengthen productivity, sustainability and data‑driven decision‑making in agriculture.
Several AI applications were unveiled at the conference to advance agricultural innovation. Among them was Maha Agri‑X, an agricultural data exchange platform aimed at improving interoperability and data access.
The state also introduced an AI‑based pest and disease detection system, a voice telephony app for advisory services and an LLM initiative to support the Bhili tribal language. These tools are intended to facilitate early detection, enhance communication and promote local‑language technology adoption.
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Maharashtra’s launch of AI for Agri 2026 reflects its ambition to lead India’s AI‑driven agricultural transformation. The state announced digital platforms, research collaborations and targeted investments to improve farmer services and enhance sustainability.
With new AI tools, expanded infrastructure and global partnerships, Maharashtra aims to accelerate technology adoption across districts. The initiatives outlined by Chief Minister Fadnavis illustrate a comprehensive roadmap to support future‑ready agriculture.
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Published on: Feb 23, 2026, 12:47 PM IST

Akshay Shivalkar
Akshay Shivalkar is a financial content specialist who strategises and creates SEO-optimised content on the stock market, mutual funds, and other investment products. With experience in fintech and mutual funds, he simplifies complex financial concepts to help investors make informed decisions through his writing.
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