TN Agri Budget: Govt bets on AI and Machine Learning to deliver real-time assistance to farmers
The Tamil Nadu government has allocated ₹2 crore for the 'Uzhavar AI scheme' to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning into agricultural extension services.
The Tamil Nadu government unveiled the 'Uzhavar AI scheme' as part of its 2026-27 Agriculture Budget, aimed at providing real-time, data-driven advisories directly to farmers. Agriculture Minister R. Vinoth announced the initiative in the Legislative Assembly, earmarking ₹2 crore to integrate AI and Machine Learning technologies to modernise agricultural extension services across the state.
Under this initiative, farmers will receive comprehensive technical advisories covering the entire crop cycle from sowing to harvest. These automated services will provide localized weather forecasts, soil health management, pest and disease alerts, and tailored crop recommendations based on prevailing agro-climatic conditions. The goal is to move from traditional subsistence farming to a technology-driven, science-based model.
To bridge the digital divide in rural areas, the government is introducing 'Voice-First Agriculture Services'. This feature enables farmers to access agricultural knowledge, real-time market intelligence, and government scheme details through simple voice queries on their mobile phones, building upon the foundation laid by the 'Uzhavar' mobile app launched in 2021.
State authorities are also focusing on soil management by issuing Soil Health Cards to approximately three lakh farmers holding a Farmer Identification Number (FID). This effort leverages a combined Union and State allocation of ₹6.16 crore, with an additional ₹4 crore allocated by the state for another one lakh farmers. This data-driven approach is expected to bring more transparency and efficiency to agricultural policy implementation.
Furthermore, the government is expanding physical infrastructure with an investment of ₹27.82 crore to construct eight new Integrated Agricultural Extension Centres. Located in districts including Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, and Coimbatore, these centres will feature 300-tonne capacity godowns and provide a single-window facility for technical advice and departmental schemes. Finally, an allocation of ₹3 crore has been made for a statewide Agriculture Expo to showcase Good Agricultural Practices and modern smart farming technologies.