Patna: The Bihar government has initiated a major digital integration aimed at improving access to agricultural services for farmers across the state. Under the initiative, services offered by Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, will be linked with the Bihar Agriculture Digital Platform, allowing farmers to access a wider range of agricultural support through a single application.
The move is expected to benefit more than 12 lakh farmers already registered on the Bihar Agriculture App.
Agriculture Department Begins Integration Process
The Agriculture Department has started formal steps to integrate the university’s services with the state’s digital agriculture platform. Agriculture Director Saurabh Suman Yadav has written to the Vice-Chancellor of Bihar Agricultural University, seeking collaboration for the initiative.
Officials said the integration is intended to improve farmers’ access to scientific farming practices, expert advice and modern agricultural technologies, while supporting efforts to increase farm productivity and income.
One Platform for Multiple Agricultural Services
The Bihar Agriculture App currently provides weather-based agricultural advisories using data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). These advisories help farmers make informed decisions regarding sowing, irrigation and crop management.
The platform also offers an AI-powered chatbot and expert-generated content, enabling farmers to seek answers to farming-related queries without visiting agricultural offices.
With the proposed integration, farmers will additionally gain access to BAU’s advisory services, research findings, training programmes and agricultural extension activities through the same platform.
More Than 12 Lakh Farmers Already Registered
According to the Agriculture Department, over 12 lakh farmers are currently registered on the Bihar Agriculture Digital Platform, and the user base continues to grow.
Officials believe that direct digital access to agricultural information will help farmers respond more effectively to changing weather conditions, adopt new technologies and address crop-related challenges in a timely manner.
Focus on Small and Marginal Farmers
The Agriculture Department and Bihar Agricultural University are expected to hold discussions soon to finalise the integration framework.
Once implemented, the initiative is expected to particularly benefit small and marginal farmers by bringing expert guidance and agricultural services directly to their mobile phones, reducing the need for travel and improving access to reliable information.
