A high-level meeting on the "Crop Insurance Scheme and E-Crop Survey" was held at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai on March 20, 2025. The meeting was chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
The discussions primarily centered on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to enhance agricultural operations. A significant decision was made to develop a single-window service app and a dedicated website to provide farmers with seamless access to various agricultural schemes. Chief Minister Fadnavis highlighted the need for integrating state and central government schemes to ensure farmers benefit effectively.
Emphasizing the importance of the Farmer and Agro-centric Agristack scheme, Fadnavis directed the establishment of a robust system for the sale and distribution of certified seeds through the Saathi portal. This initiative aims to ensure farmers receive genuine seeds, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity.
Key decisions taken during the meeting included the development of advanced AI technologies for soil analysis, pest and disease management, supply chain optimization, and accurate weather forecasting. Additionally, agricultural startups will be encouraged to introduce innovative solutions to address sector-specific challenges.
Efforts will also be made to upgrade the E-Crop Survey application, enhancing its efficiency and user-friendliness. The government is committed to ensuring the effective implementation of agricultural schemes at both state and central levels. Revised proposals for necessary improvements to ongoing programs will be submitted for consideration.
To further bolster agricultural research, the government plans to promote collaboration between the public and private sectors, fostering knowledge exchange and skill development.
Other attendees included Minister Manikrao Kokate, Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Minister of State Ashish Jaiswal, and senior government officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary.
