For farmers grappling with uncertain weather, pest attacks and fluctuating market prices, expert agricultural advice is now just a voice message away. More than 1.06 lakh farmers in Nagpur district have registered on MahaVISTAAR-AI, Maharashtra’s artificial intelligence-powered farm advisory platform, making Nagpur the leading district in Vidarbha as the application crosses 10 lakh downloads statewide. Launched on May 21, 2025, by the Maharashtra Government in collaboration with the Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture (PoCRA), the platform provides weather forecasts, crop advisories, market intelligence and access to government services through a single mobile application. Farmers can register using a mobile number and OTP before selecting their district, taluka and village.

 

Farmer and Nayra Farmer Producer Company Director Manoj Prabhakar Mahajan of Uparwahi in Kalmeshwar taluka said the application’s voice-enabled interface has made it accessible to a large number of farmers. “The app is very user-friendly. Even farmers with limited education can use it through voice chat in Marathi and other local languages. Weather updates and advisories are among its most useful features.

 

Farmers can seek guidance throughout the crop cycle, from sowing to pest management, and obtain information on the appropriate use of pesticides whenever required,” he said. Mahajan suggested that the platform could be further strengthened through WhatsApp integration. While farmers can currently upload crop photographs, he said WhatsApp-based support would allow them to share soil test reports and receive guidance on soil health, nutrient management and fertiliser application, besides receiving weather alerts and advisories directly on the messaging platform. Nagpur leads in division with 1,06,287 registrations, followed by Chandrapur (1,04,395), Wardha (78,609), Gondia (73,105), Bhandara (71,706) and Gadchiroli (41,334). Within the district, Parseoni tops the list with 11,896 registrations, followed by Kalmeshwar (10,145) and Katol (10,020).