9 min readBharat-VISTAAR is an AI helper for farmers from the Government of India. It started on 17 February 2026 in Jaipur. You call 155261 and talk to an assistant named Bharati in Hindi or English. It can tell you the weather, mandi prices, pest alerts, soil health and scheme details. You do not need an app or internet for the call.
What is Bharat-VISTAAR?
Bharat-VISTAAR is a new AI service for farmers. It comes from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. It was announced in the Union Budget 2026-27. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan started it on 17 February 2026 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, as the All India Radio launch report says.
Some websites say the full form is "Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources". Insights on India gives this form. The launch news itself does not spell it out, so treat it with care.
The idea is simple. Today a farmer may need many apps and websites to check weather, mandi prices and schemes. Bharat-VISTAAR puts all of this in one place. You just ask your question out loud on a phone call.
How do I use Bharat-VISTAAR? Call 155261 step by step
The phone call is the easiest way to start. The Free Press Journal reports that a farmer can dial 155261 from any phone and speak to the AI, which replies right away. The Indian Cooperative adds that you do not need a smartphone or internet.
- Dial 155261 on your mobile. Keep your village, district and crop name in mind.
- Choose Hindi or English when the assistant asks. Only these two are available now.
- Ask one clear question. For example: "What is the wheat price in my mandi today?" or "Will it rain in my village tomorrow?"
- Listen carefully. If the answer is not clear, ask the same thing in different words.
- Write down the answer. For money matters like insurance or payment status, also check the official website of that scheme.
Is The Call Free?: One website calls 155261 toll-free. The launch reports we read do not say this. Watch the charge on your first call before you assume it is free. We will update this line when the government confirms it.
What can Bharati help with?
Bharati can talk about the topics below. Each row also tells you what to keep in mind.
| What you ask about | What you can get | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | Weather news and forecast | Use it to plan spraying and watering |
| Mandi prices | Crop prices in markets across India | Prices change every day. Check your own mandi before you sell |
| Pests and diseases | General tips and alerts | These are general tips. They are not a check of your exact plant |
| Soil health | Soil health details and Soil Health Card help | To read your card, see our Soil Health Card guide |
| Crop advice | Tips on sowing, harvest and selling, based on ICAR research | Good for basic, stage-wise guidance |
| Government schemes | Scheme details and who can apply | Up to 10 schemes are reported (see next section) |
| Complaints | Help to raise a complaint, as some websites describe | VERIFY how complaints are tracked |
Which government schemes does Bharat-VISTAAR cover?
Two schemes are clearly named in the launch reports: PM Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance) and the Soil Health Card. Drishti IAS says they are linked through the digital Farmer ID. One website lists ten schemes. Please treat this list as "reported", not as an official list.
| Scheme (reported) | Read more on our site |
|---|---|
| PM-KISAN | Payment dates and status: PM-KISAN payment status |
| Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) | Who can join and how to apply: PM Fasal Bima Yojana guide |
| Soil Health Card | See the Soil Health Card guide linked above |
| Kisan Credit Card | Loan limit and how to apply: Kisan Credit Card scheme |
| Agriculture Infrastructure Fund | Named by one website only |
| PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana | Named by one website only |
| Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization | Named by one website only |
| Per Drop More Crop | Named by one website only |
| PM-AASHA (price support) | Named by one website only |
| Modified Interest Subvention Scheme | Named in more than one report |
Want a bigger picture of subsidies? Read our agriculture subsidy schemes guide. For dates, see the agri schemes calendar.
Where do the answers come from, and can I trust them?
Reports say Bharati uses government farm data, ICAR crop research, the national weather service and market price records. This is a good base, because the advice comes from public science. Still, an AI answer is only as good as your question and the data behind it. So use it as a first answer, not the final word.
- Mandi and weather answers change fast. Ask again on the day you act.
- For money matters like a claim or a loan, confirm on the official website or at your bank.
- Never share your OTP, bank PIN or Aadhaar number with any caller. A government helpline does not ask for an OTP.
What can Bharat-VISTAAR not do yet?
It is a first-phase service, so it has clear limits. Knowing them will save you time.
| Limit | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Only Hindi and English | Farmers who speak Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Odia and other languages cannot use their own language yet. More are planned, but no date is out |
| Not every scheme is live | Check the scheme's own website for your status |
| Farmer ID linking is still growing | Your personal land and scheme details depend on the Farmer ID, which is still being rolled out |
| It cannot see your crop | It cannot judge a leaf photo or a field. For a pest, disease or nutrient problem, ask a human expert |
| No call numbers found | We found no official count of calls or farmers served, so we do not quote any |
Is there a Bharat-VISTAAR mobile app?
Reports talk about a mobile app and a chat option coming later. They also mention links with the PM-KISAN and PMFBY apps. But sources disagree on the timing, and we could not confirm that a public app is live. For now, the phone call to 155261 is the sure way in. We will update this part when the Ministry shares an official app link.
How can farmers and shopkeepers make the best use of it?
- Keep a small notebook. Write the date, your question and the answer. It helps when you meet a farm expert later.
- Ask stage-wise questions, such as "When should I give the first irrigation to my wheat crop?" Then check the answer with your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK, the government farm advice centre).
- Input shop owners: tell farmers that 155261 exists. But keep giving your own advice on the right product, dose and time.
- FPO and SHG leaders: play the helpline in group meetings so members learn to check mandi prices and scheme details.
Conclusion
Bharat-VISTAAR is a useful first step. One number, 155261, and one AI helper, Bharati, can answer questions on weather, mandi prices, pests, soil health and schemes. It is still new, so some languages, schemes and the app are coming later. Try it, write down the answers, and confirm money matters on the official website. To learn about the schemes in detail, start with our agriculture subsidy schemes guide.
Why trust this guide
Written by Team Katyayani, Editorial Team at Katyayani Organics. Cross-checked against published research and university extension programs.
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