In a visionary address at Mumbai’s AI4 Agri 2026 Global Conference, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that artificial intelligence will power India’s next agricultural revolution. Speaking at the investor summit’s inauguration, he described AI as the pivotal element reshaping farming policy, R&D, and funding landscapes.
The minister zeroed in on AI’s potential to tackle deep-rooted issues like unpredictable monsoons, information gaps among farmers, and disjointed supply chains that have long stifled output. He likened AI to a nationwide remedy: ‘Not a mere patch, but a comprehensive cure deployable at scale.’ A 10% yield increase for Global South’s 600 million farmers, he argued, unlocks unprecedented poverty reduction.
Elevating agriculture’s status, Dr. Singh connected the dots to the ambitious India AI Mission with its Rs 10,372 crore outlay for homegrown supercomputers, data repositories, and entrepreneurial hubs. BharatJan’s ‘Agri Parm’ model stands out, delivering multilingual advice in 22 languages to bridge communication barriers. ‘Farmers get AI counsel in their mother tongue – be it Tamil, Punjabi, or Assamese,’ he noted.
DST’s support for the open-source India AI Open Stack fosters seamless nationwide AI integration. Collaborative research with premier institutions like IITs, IISc, and ICAR is channeling funds into AI-driven agri innovations. Satellite and drone tech enhances soil mapping and tenure records, while climate-AI fusion equips farmers with predictive alerts.
Biotech synergies promise early pest detection and hardy crops, fostering sustainable cycles. Quantifying the impact, Dr. Singh projected Rs 70,000 crore in value addition from AI efficiencies saving small farmers Rs 5,000 per year via optimized practices and markets. Maharashtra’s forward-thinking Rs 500 crore AI policy serves as a blueprint, with the Centre committed to scaling similar efforts.
This AI surge signals India’s pivot to precision agriculture, blending technology with tradition to secure food futures and farmer prosperity.