The MahaAgri-AI Policy 2025–2029 of Maharashtra, sets out an ambitious roadmap for the state to transform its agricultural sector through strategic integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies into every stage of the farming value chain.
The policy was introduced in June will an initial allocation of INR 5 billion to transform agricultural landscape of the state. The policy seeks to enhance sustainable growth by boosting productivity, building climate resilience ecosystem, and increasing farmer incomes by means of technology driven, farmer-centric interventions. The programme also aims to tackle persistent farm based challenges such as low yields, climate variability, and water stress management with the use of AI and other emerging technologies.
The increasing use use of technology based inputs has enabled small land holding farmers in the state to achieve measurable ground results, promoting growth of an inclusive institutional ecosystem. The policy aligns with the strategic vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 and also contributes towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, aiming to create replicable models that position Maharashtra as a national leader in AI-driven agriculture.
From Policy to Practice
As per a recent LinkedIn post by angel investor Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Maharashtra’s MahaAgri-AI Policy 2025–2029 is already transforming into ground-level interventions that could redefine small land holder agriculture in the state. The key initiatives include introduction of AI-powered advisory platform such as MahaVISTAAR_AI, which deliver crop specific guidance for every stage multiple languages including lingua franca of the state, Marathi. Everything from sowing to pest control is covered in a structured manner, while satellite imagery combined with AI models is utilized for yield forecasting and climate-resilient planning.
Farmers will be able to access smartphone based disease and pest detection tools, with AI driven market intelligence enabling price forecasting, which in turn will help farmers make informed decisions and avoid disastrous sales. The MahaAgri-AI policy will promote incorporation of blockchain backed traceability models aimed towards curbing black marketing of agricultural inputs, which will ensure certified seeds and fertilizers reach farmers at a fair prices. In addition to this, AI based credit scoring models will bypass CIBIL thresholds, unlocking formal credit and insurance for smallholders who were previously excluded from institutional lending. As part of initiatives taken by sandbox pilots to foster innovation, datasets from CropSAP, Mahavedh, and AgriStack, will enable the development of region specific AI solutions.
Sinha observes that this integrated aprroach facilitated by framework of MahaAgri-AI policy will build a collaborative ecosystem that unites policymakers, technologists, and farmers, positioning Mahrashtra as the frontrunner in emerging as a national leader in AI driven agriculture.
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Building Statewide AI driven Agriculture System
Maharashtra’s MahaAgri-AI Policy will be implemented in multiple phases, beginning with the creation of digital public infrastructure and establishing of institutions to fund and incubate innovative agritech based solutions. An initial disbursement of ₹5 billion has been allocated, to support innovations based on technical viability, commercial feasibility, and potential impact. The policy is also encouraging public private collaboration with national and international institutions for research, knowledge exchange, and AI tool development. The MahaAgri-AI Policy will have a dedicated budget for capacity building among farmers and agricultural extension workers. The policy will undergo a mid-term review after three years, with provisions for course corrections and funding adjustments.
Under the MahaAgri-AI Policy, a comprehensive shared Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to support startups, companies, research organizations, and other stakeholders will be established by Mahrashtra. The DPI will feature an Agriculture Data Exchange that will contain credible public datasets, such as farmer registries, crop statistics, weather conditions, soil health, pest and disease incidence, and market data that will provide information about private datasets covering export intelligence, credit systems, and storage infrastructure.
The MahaAgri-AI policy will also promote a sandbox pilot ecosystem, where AI based real world simulations for agricultural solutions will be tested. The AI powered remote sensing and geospatial intelligence tools will support crop acreage estimation, yield forecasting, and climate risk mapping. Additionally, AI enabled traceability and certification platforms will ensure food safety and quality through government-backed, internationally recognized systems.
The institutional framework of MahaAgri-AI policy also includes a state level steering committee for project approvals, a State-Level Technical Committee for feasibility evaluations, and a dedicated AI and Agritech Innovation Centre staffed by multi-sector professionals to oversee seamless implementation. The committee’s functioning also includes identifying key challenges, analysing proposals, organizing hackathons, incubating approved projects, and tracking their impact.
The committee will also organize a Global AI in Agriculture Conference and Investor Summit to bring innovators and investors together to foster agritech growth. These initiatives will be complemented by AI Research and Innovation Centres in four State Agricultural Universities, serving as mechanism for developing and deploying Generative AI and emerging technology solutions in collaboration with industry and research institutions at both national and international levels.