Ajit Pawar's AI in Agriculture Dream Realized with Central Budget Boost

• Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane praised the central budget for its focus on agriculture and rural economy, anticipating a new leap for Maharashtra's agricultural development.
• The budget allocates significant funds: ₹167 crore for Agri-Business Networks, ₹207 crore for lift irrigation solarization, and ₹646 crore for Agricultural Business and Rural Transformation Scheme.
• The overall agricultural budget is projected to increase to ₹1.5 lakh crore, providing relief to farmers nationwide.
• The central government's emphasis on AI in agriculture aligns with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's earlier initiative, where Maharashtra became the first state to implement an AI policy in agriculture with a ₹550 crore provision.
• The 'Bharat Vistar' initiative, an AI-based multilingual agricultural assistance tool, will provide farmers with crucial information on weather, crops, pest control, and market prices, building on Maharashtra's 'Maha-Vistar' app.

Why It Matters: Central budget's focus on AI and rural development fulfills Ajit Pawar's vision for agriculture.