Budget 2026: FM Sitharaman proposes multilingual AI tool, backs high-value crops to raise farm incomes

In a major push for tech-driven agriculture, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of 'Bharat Vistar' in the Union Budget 2026-27—a multilingual AI tool set to integrate AgriStack portals and ICAR's agricultural practices with advanced AI systems, transforming how farmers access resources and make decisions. The platform will boost farm productivity, deliver customised advisory support to reduce risks, and enable better on-ground choices for millions of farmers, aligning with the government's vision for AI integration in farming. This comes alongside robust support for animal husbandry to spur rural jobs: a credit-linked subsidy program; scaling up and modernisation of livestock enterprises; enhanced creation of livestock, dairy, and poultry-focused integrated value chains; and encouragement for livestock farmer producer organisations.