Fadnavis Advocates AI Revolution for Agriculture Amidst Global Challenges

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis underscores the urgent need for an AI-driven revolution in agriculture to combat global strains like climate volatility and fragile markets. Speaking at the India AI Summit 2026, he emphasized India's strategic focus on digital infrastructure under PM Modi's leadership, targeting inclusion and economic resilience.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday addressed the pressing global challenges in agriculture, emphasizing that global food systems are under severe pressure from climate change, shrinking water resources, deteriorating soil quality, unstable supply chains, and volatile markets. During the India AI Summit 2026, he stressed the critical role agriculture plays in the Global South, serving not only as an economic activity but also as a foundation for livelihood, social stability, and national security. India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, is prioritizing digital public infrastructure and responsible AI in its national development strategy.

Fadnavis highlighted the significant period of transformation, stating that agriculture should be central to India's AI mission. As over half a billion Indians rely on agriculture for livelihood, smallholder farmers face various obstacles, including fragmented information and unstable input costs. The India AI Mission aims to enhance inclusion, transparency, and operational scale, directly addressing the needs of the agricultural sector.

The Chief Minister further emphasized the limitations of traditional agricultural extension systems, which cannot keep pace with the rapidly evolving challenges. He advocated for the deployment of AI solutions to provide precise weather forecasts, early pest warnings, precision guidance for irrigation and fertilization, crop-based credit assessments, and real-time market advisories, all of which are vital for transforming the agricultural landscape.

(With inputs from agencies.)