Context: IIT Madras recently partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to launch Project VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources).
- The collaboration will integrate information on over 12,000 start-ups in agriculture and it incubate YNOS Venture Engine.
- It will also connect innovative agri-tech solutions with farmers, promoting sustainable and climate-resilient practices.
- By enhancing the digital extension system, VISTAAR will broaden its outreach and support farmers effectively.
- Significance:
- Digitalisation will expand the agricultural extension system’s outreach.
- It will provide farmers with high-quality advisory services on crop production, marketing, value addition, and supply chain management.
- Advisory services will include detailed information on government schemes for agriculture, allied sectors, and rural development.
- The goal is to ensure that farmers can effectively benefit from these schemes and resources.
About
- Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources is a comprehensive digital network of information that will leverage interconnected databases to form a decentralized repository.
- This network aims for seamless access to vital resources for enhanced decision-making and resource utilization within the agricultural community.
- Itis an open, interoperable, and federated network.
- Objective: To empower farmers and enhance their farming practices for better, sustainable livelihood.
- This network transforms agriculture by enabling the discovery and sharing of verified content, best practices, and agri-skilling across various platforms, fostering innovation through collaboration.