When Manoj Prabhakar Mahajan wants to know whether rain is likely over his fields, he no longer waits for a visit from an agriculture officer or calls around for advice.
Instead, the farmer from Uparwahi village in Maharashtra’s Kalmeshwar taluka opens an app, speaks in Marathi, and receives guidance within seconds.
For Mahajan, who is also the director of Nayra Farmer Producer Company, that simple voice interaction reflects a significant shift: agricultural information is becoming easier to access for thousands of farmers, regardless of their education level or familiarity with technology.
Mahajan is among the more than 1.06 lakh farmers in Nagpur district who have registered on MahaVISTAAR-AI, Maharashtra’s artificial intelligence-powered farm advisory platform. The district currently leads Vidarbha in registrations, as the app crosses 10 lakh downloads across the state.
Speaking the farmer’s language
Before MahaVISTAAR-AI, farmers like Mahajan often relied on a familiar network of calls and personal contacts.
If dark clouds appeared unexpectedly, he would phone fellow farmers to compare local weather conditions. If pests affected his cotton crop, he might travel to the agriculture office, consult a pesticide dealer, or wait for an extension worker to visit his village.
Today, his routine is much simpler.
Each morning, he opens the app, asks in Marathi whether rain is expected over the next few days, and receives an instant advisory. He can also upload photographs of crop issues and seek guidance on pest management without leaving his field.
While smartphones and internet access have become increasingly common in rural India, many farmers still face challenges navigating digital platforms. Photograph: (Shutterstock)
Launched on 21 May 2025 by the Maharashtra Government in collaboration with the Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture (PoCRA), MahaVISTAAR-AI brings together weather forecasts, crop advisories, market information, and government services on a single platform.
Farmers can register using a mobile number and OTP before selecting their district, taluka and village. Once enrolled, they can access guidance throughout the crop cycle, from sowing decisions and irrigation planning to pest management and pesticide use.
One of the app’s most popular features is its voice-enabled interface.
While smartphones and internet access have become increasingly common in rural India, many farmers still face challenges navigating digital platforms. Reading-heavy interfaces and unfamiliar technology can often become barriers.
Voice-based AI is helping bridge that gap by allowing farmers to ask questions in their own language and receive answers instantly.
From weather forecasts to crop advice
The platform’s appeal lies in its usefulness for everyday farm decisions.
A farmer noticing signs of pest damage can seek immediate guidance. Another can check the weather forecast before planning irrigation or spraying crops.
That convenience appears to be driving adoption.
Nagpur currently leads Vidarbha with 1,06,287 registrations. Chandrapur follows with 1,04,395 registrations, while Wardha has recorded 78,609 users. Gondia has 73,105 registrations, Bhandara 71,706, and Gadchiroli 41,334.
Within Nagpur district, Parseoni has emerged as the most active taluka with 11,896 registrations. Kalmeshwar follows with 10,145 registrations, while Katol has recorded 10,020 users.
Farmers already looking ahead
Even as registrations continue to grow, some farmers are already thinking about what could come next.
Many believe integrating the service with WhatsApp could make it even more accessible.
MahaVISTAAR has already reached more than 30 lakh farmers, making it one of India’s largest AI-enabled agricultural advisory initiatives. Photograph: (WOTR)
Currently, farmers can upload crop photographs through the app. A WhatsApp-based system could also allow them to share soil test reports and receive tailored recommendations on soil health, nutrient management and fertiliser use.
Weather alerts and advisories could reach farmers directly through a platform they already use every day.
MahaVISTAAR has already reached more than 30 lakh farmers, making it one of India’s largest AI-enabled agricultural advisory initiatives.
Challenges remain, including improving accuracy across regional dialects, increasing awareness and encouraging adoption among first-time users. Yet the platform’s significance lies in its approach.
For decades, access to agricultural expertise often depended on literacy levels, geography or proximity to extension services.
Now, as the sun rises over fields in Kalmeshwar, Parseoni and Katol, farmers can ask a question and receive an answer before stepping into their fields.
In a profession where decisions are often shaped by weather, timing and uncertainty, technology is no longer asking farmers to learn a new language.
It is beginning to learn theirs.
