New Delhi, 20 February (H.S.): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserted on Friday that artificial intelligence (AI) must be grounded in reliable data, ethical governance, and public accountability.
Speaking at the AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam during a special session titled “AI Meets Agriculture: Building Food Security and Climate Resilience,” Fadnavis emphasized, “The success of AI lies not in its 'magic,' but in its ethics.” He underscored that India’s AI Mission seeks to harness technology for ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and widespread access, with agriculture positioned at its core since nearly 50 million Indians depend directly or indirectly on farming.
For smallholder farmers, AI holds transformative potential through hyper-local weather forecasts, pest control, and precision irrigation.
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi revealed that the central government is developing an integrated AI-driven platform, referencing initiatives like 'Mahavistar' to deliver field- and crop-specific advice tailored to each farmer’s 'Kisan ID'—accessible via a single button or voice command, supplanting generic data.
World Bank Group Vice President Johannes Zutt commended India, stating that successful AI deployment in agriculture here would serve as a global exemplar, describing it as a “transformative moment” for small farmers.
MS Swaminathan Research Foundation Chair Dr. Soumya Swaminathan cautioned that AI algorithms must be designed to prevent marginalization of women farmers and vulnerable groups, noting that no technology is inherently pro-rich or pro-poor; its impact hinges on implementation.
The session collectively stressed imperatives such as precision farming, climate resilience, open ecosystems, and practical solutions, affirming that responsible and inclusive AI will shape the future of agricultural transformation in India to combat food insecurity and climate change.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
