3 weeks ago
Tamil Nadu Unveils Uzhavar AI Scheme in Agriculture Budget 2026-27
The Tamil Nadu government gave its farmers a new programme in its yearly farming budget.
It is called the 'Uzhavar AI scheme' and costs Rs 2 crore.
The scheme uses artificial intelligence and machine learning, which are like very smart computer helpers.
Farmers will get advice on their mobile phones about weather, soil, pests, and which crops to grow.
They can even ask questions using their voice, without needing to type.
New centres called Integrated Agricultural Extension Centres will be built in several districts to help farmers in person.
Farmers with a special Farmer Identification Number will also get Soil Health Cards to understand their land better.
There will be a big Agriculture Expo to show modern farming machines and methods.
The government says giving farmers good information on time is just as important as timely rainfall.
The Tamil Nadu government unveiled the 'Uzhavar AI scheme' as part of its Agriculture Budget for 2026-27, with Rs 2 crore allocated from state funds.
The scheme integrates Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to deliver real-time, data-driven advisories to farmers across the state.
Technical advisories covering the entire crop cycle, including localised weather forecasts, soil health, pest alerts, and crop recommendations, will be delivered via mobile devices.
A new 'Voice-First Agriculture Services' feature will let farmers access advisories, market intelligence, and welfare scheme details through voice queries on mobile phones.
The budget also earmarked Rs 27.82 crore for eight new Integrated Agricultural Extension Centres, Rs 6.16 crore plus Rs 4 crore for Soil Health Cards, and Rs 3 crore for a statewide Agriculture Expo.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare R Vinoth, on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government.
- What
- Unveiled the 'Uzhavar AI scheme', an AI and Machine Learning initiative to provide real-time advisories to farmers, as part of the Agriculture Budget for 2026-27.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu; the budget was presented in the Legislative Assembly, with a Chennai dateline.
- When
- Thursday, August 6, as part of the Agriculture Budget for 2026-27.
- Why
- To provide real-time, data-driven advisories to farmers and bridge the accessibility gap for rural cultivators through mobile and voice-first services.
Key facts
- Scheme name
- Uzhavar AI scheme
- Budget
- Agriculture Budget 2026-27
- Allocation for AI scheme
- Rs 2 crore from state funds
- Soil Health Cards
- Around 3 lakh farmers (Rs 6.16 crore Union and State funds) plus 1 lakh farmers (Rs 4 crore state allocation)
- Integrated Agricultural Extension Centres
- Rs 27.82 crore for eight new centres with 300-metric tonne capacity godowns
- Agriculture Expo outlay
- Rs 3 crore
- Predecessor initiative
- 'Uzhavar' mobile application introduced in 2021
Sources
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