Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday addressed the India AI Summit, emphasizing the critical role of agriculture in India’s development. He pointed out that global food systems are under strain due to climate volatility, water scarcity, soil degradation, fragile supply chains, and fluctuating markets.

Fadnavis highlighted that for countries in the Global South, agriculture is not just an economic sector but a foundation for livelihoods, social stability, and national security. He noted that India, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, is placing digital public infrastructure and responsible AI at the center of national growth strategies.

The Chief Minister stressed that the India AI Mission aims to leverage technology to enhance inclusion, transparency, and scalability, with a particular focus on agriculture. He observed that over half a billion Indians depend on the sector, yet small and marginal farmers face challenges like fragmented information, rising input costs, climate uncertainty, and limited market access.

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Fadnavis noted that traditional agricultural extension systems, while dedicated, are unable to address the scale and speed of modern challenges. He explained that AI can offer solutions such as hyper-local weather forecasting, early pest outbreak warnings, precision irrigation, crop-based credit assessments, traceable supply chains, and real-time market advisories.

The CM concluded that AI-driven technology can strengthen resilience in agriculture, helping farmers navigate emerging risks and secure their livelihoods in an increasingly uncertain global environment. He called for continued focus on innovation to ensure the sector benefits from scalable, practical, and inclusive solutions.

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