Resources
We are consistently building these resources, including a pool of master trainers to facilitate content and are open to your Feedback and suggestions, do get in touch and share your thoughts!
VISTAAR Bluebook
VISTAAR Network Specification
VISTAAR National Master Trainers Profiles
Implementation Guide
Frequently Asked Questions

VISTAAR is an open network for agriculture that aims to enhance the agricultural ecosystem by connecting various stakeholders by leveraging technology and AI for improved outcomes by enabling access to agriculture information and advisory services across multiple state government and private sector advisory, agri information organizations.

VISTAAR is not a platform, solution, app or scheme; it's an open network that enables the discovery of agriculture content, information, and advisory services enabled by verified and authorized seeker and provider platforms.

VISTAAR is an open network that leverages a set of standard protocols “Beckn Protocols” using which the different provider and seeker platforms can connect through a set of defined APIs to discover and fulfill agriculture content and advisory services to empower farmers and field level workers by providing timely information on crops, pesticides, best practices etc to enhance their respective productivity for a sustainable livelihood.

Beckn protocol is a set of specifications consisting of APIs, data models, reference architecture, transaction mechanisms, and global standards that when adopted by digital platforms, enable the creation of decentralized networks. Such networks allow consumers and providers to discover, identify each other and perform transactions with each other without the need for a central intermediary. It can be thought of as a common set of rules of communication mutually agreed upon by several platforms to allow their users to perform discovery, ordering, fulfillment and post-fulfillment activities between each other in a standard way. It is a sector-agnostic protocol, meaning, any industry-specific taxonomy or knowledge model can be represented using the data model of Beckn protocol.

It's an open network, we welcome all stakeholders involved in agriculture information (crop, best practices, schemes etc), advisory, research, forecasting and observation services including individuals and organizations committed to advancing agriculture-related learning, capacity, building etc that can empower farmers for an improved sustainable livelihood via farming in India.

Provider Platform - If you create or facilitate agriculture-related verified content, best practices, video scheme information, farming techniques, etc, and aspire to broaden the reach to farmers, governments, and field-level field workers via a web page, mobile or web application or would want to build one in future, we invite you to join VISTAAR as a Provider Platform
Provider - If you are a public or private organization, research institute or academia or a service provider that enables content, agri -advisory services you will be called a provider. Any provider can have either their own app, web portal etc that can act as the provider platform and can onboard by integrating with VISTAAR or if you are a provider but do not have a platform/web page of your own you can still participate in VISTAAR by onboarding any of the provider platforms already integrated with VISTAAR.
Seeker Platform - If you are an application or a platform provider that acts as an interface for farmers, students, and field-level workers to access information, and advisory resources for agriculture from various sources or aspire to become a platform that can enable access to agriculture resources, content, advisory services available on the network, you can join VISTAAR as a seeker platform.
Seeker - If you are a farmer or a field-level worker and would like to consume information resources, data insights, or advisory services on VISTAAR through any of the seeker platforms, you can join as a “seeker”.

Accessible through websites and chat-bots and interactive voice response systems integrated on VISTAAR network

If you are a content-providing organization, contact us via the "Get Involved Contact Us” form. We will reach out to you. We are looking for quality advisory content in simple language and local dialects.

If you are a content sharing platform that provides farmer-friendly content, videos, or fact sheets, please reach out to us by filling the“Contact Us” form, we will reach out to you with next steps to help your platform onboard the VISTAAR network as a provider platform.

If you have relevant data layers or services, reach out to us by filling the “Contact Us” form. We will reach out to you to seek more information about your services or platform and guide you with steps on contributing or integrating to the VISTAAR network.

Please fill in the contact us form/write to us on the contact us email to reach out to VISTAAR’s support or onboarding team through their official website or contact channels. Submit an application detailing your platform, its services, and how it aims to assist farmers and field-level workers. VISTAAR will review your application, verify your platform's credentials, and approve your participation. Once approved, VISTAAR will provide integration guidelines and necessary training to help you connect with the network.

If you know stakeholders/platforms crucial for VISTAAR success, and can help farmers help us map them and host a dialogue or mini-Win Room by submitting the query or request via “Get Involved’ form. We will contact you to facilitate win rooms that will connect them with a robust integration workshop with live tech support.

If you're a researcher or connected to researchers, please contact us by submitting information about yourself via “get Involved” We particularly need experts in agronomy, pest management, markets, animal husbandry, gender, and climate responsive content.

If you have an existing app, bot, or tech component, please reach out to us via the “get involved” form, we will reach out to you with the onboarding and integration process

VISTAAR onboards provider platforms and organizations via a onboarding robust framework driven by the Ministry and the respective State Governments, only approved providers and provider platforms are registered on VISTAAR post a certification process to ensure the content, and information accessed is from authorized sources and are reliable.

Farmers, Field-level workers, and Governments will benefit from VISTAAR by gaining insights on weather, best practices, farming trends, farmer-eligible schemes, and observation services.

Of course, we have several Network Service Providers who can help you join the network. Please submit your query or reach out to us by filling “Involved Us” form.

DG is offering facilitators, and we welcome other partner organizations to volunteer facilitators dedicating 10-20% of their time to VISTAAR. Skills in various categories are valuable for steering engagement and workstreams.

VISTAAR enables a sandbox and onboarding mechanism that for new participants , any new platform willing to integrate on VISTAAR should comply to the pre-requisite onabording compliances and can initiate integration via the sandbox certification process. Center and state government can plan to identify, design, and onboard additional member users and platforms across each role type over the following xx months post the xxxx launch, ensuring a diverse and active network. This will be in compliance with the network protocols that are followed for participation in VISTAAR.

Yes, VISTAAR encourages organizations to offer training and capacity-building services to public sector and frontline workers. This can enhance their skills and knowledge, enabling them to better support farmers.

If you know stakeholders crucial for VISTAAR, help map them and host discussions. This can include mini-Win Rooms, sensitization sessions, and connecting them with tech experts.

Yes, organizations with relevant expertise can volunteer facilitators dedicating 10-20% of their time to VISTAAR. DG is already volunteering facilitators, and other partners are encouraged to contribute.

VISTAAR is not a digital solution but is an open network similar to ONDC, that facilitates all te different content/information seeker and provider solutions/platform to plug in and discover agricultural adviosry content by farmers and extension workers. It aims at creating an open agriculture advisory ecosystem wherein the farmer can benefit from best practices, information made available by various platforms across reserach institutes, programs, state & central government

VISTAAR intends to digitally strengthen and enable ongoing digital interventions at state and central level and will complement ongoing efforts of content, databases, and last mile delivery. It leverages a set of standardised protocols called as "Beckn protocol" which acts as a common language across multiple digital interventions and helps them integrate with VISTAAR network to leverage ongoing solutions by enhancing capability, visibility and scalability

To join the VISTAAR network, please signup and provide your information using the linke here

The VISTAAR network policy defines principles, policies the participating network participants (seeker and buyer platforms) should adhere to that ensures transparency, accountability, reliability of information facilitating a fair information exchange that benefits the farmers and extension worker. Please find the detailed network policy link here - (link of the approved network policy to be added)

VISTAAR is an open information network that leverages set of standardised protocols called "Beckn protocol" to enable transactions between the seeker and provider platforms integrated on VISTAAR and helps them discover each other and make advisory content available for farmers and extension workers. VISTAAR doesnt store any data or information that has been exchanged between the seeker and provider platforms and doesnt collect any personal information data sets. The network is agnostic of privacy and security concerns, the VISTAAR network policy and network participant agreements define the minimum privacy & security measures every network participant (seeker and provider platform) should comply with in order to get access to the production enviornment. The participating platforms are required to use existing technologies like SSL and HTTPS to securely communicate with each other and also adhere to the local and state government's data privacy policy. The respective State Governments will be expected to include privacy policy compliance checks as part of their certification criteria during onboarding of seeker and provider platform.

It is an open network. We welcome all stakeholders involved in the agricultural information, education and skilling sector, including individuals and organizations committed to advancing learning and livelihood opportunities in agriculture, to join this dynamic network.

Farmers, Field-level workers,SHGs, FPOs and Governments will benefit from VISTAAR by gaining insights on weather, best practices, farming trends, farmer-eligible schemes, and observation services from, Experts, Government Departments and Policy Makers, Agricultural Research Institutes and agri-tech startups. Vistaar can enable me to access information/advisory services and/or enable me to onboard content providers or enable others to do so.

VISTAAR - Virtually integrated Systems To Access Agricultural Resources being developed as a DPI for Agriculture Extension.

At its core, VISTAAR embodies the ethos of inclusivity, ensuring that every farmer, regardless of location or circumstance, has access to relevant, customised, contextual information and extension services. Through the seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies, we aim to revolutionise the way agriculture is practised in India, fostering a culture of innovation and resilience.

Information needs in agriculture are multifaceted, necessitating up-to-date, relevant, and accurate data that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Furthermore, it will enable farmers and extension workers to get access to skill-building opportunities in light of evolving agricultural practices.They further will get easy access to communication tools and climate-resilient and gender-sensitive training aligning with sustainable agricultural practices to support their work with farmers.

VISTAAR is not exactly a government entity itself but is an initiative driven by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare (MoA&FW) in India. It represents a significant government effort to transform the agriculture sector by leveraging digital public infrastructure (DPIs). While VISTAAR operates with government support and governance, it involves multiple stakeholders, including private sector participants, research institutions, and technology providers, contributing to its ecosystem.

Provider Platform: If you aspire to broaden the reach of information around agriculture, weather, credit, govt. schemes you offer, we invite you to join the network as a Provider Platform.

Provider: If you’d like to be onboarded on an existing provider platform as one of the providers of information around agriculture, weather, credit, govt. schemes, we invite you to join the network as a Provider Platform.

Seeker Platform: If you seek to explore the vast array of information around agriculture, weather, credit, govt. schemes available within the network, we encourage you to join as a Seeker Platform.

Seeker: If you’d like to consume the information made available by the Vistaar network through any of the seeker platforms, you can join as a seeker.

Network Service Provider: If you choose to enable other organizations to join this network through your technology, business or onboarding services, this role will suit you the best.

Yes, it is possible to join the VISTAAR network without having extensive technological expertise or know-how. We have several Network Service Providers who can help you join the network. You can submit your queries using “Involve Us” form.

As a network participant, all policies governing the network along with the network participant agreement will binding on each network participant. Please find the link of the "Network policy" and "Network Participant Agreement" here.

A VISTAAR community has been created on discord to address the issues/grievances with VISTAAR . Please join the VISTAAR discord community here

The quality and accuracy of the content is to be ensured by the respective State or central Govt department who is responsible for onabording their seekr and provider apps and organisation. While onboarding its advised that the onboarding authority ensures checks and balances to facilitate only relevant, authentic and reliable content.

Access the registration form on VISTAAR’s official website. Provide necessary details about your organization and the type of content you offer. Upload any required documentation for verification. VISTAAR will review your submission and get back to you with approval and further steps.

Any organization, platform, or individual that offers relevant agricultural content, advisory services, or educational resources can become a content provider. This includes: Agri-Tech companies and startups, Agricultural research institutions, agricultural experts, government institutions etc.

You can provide a wide range of content, including but not limited to: Agricultural best practices, Crop management techniques, Pest and disease control methods, Weather forecasts and alerts, Climate-resilient farming practices, Information related to government schemes and subsidies, etc.

Wider reach to potential users, increased awareness, improved impact and better outcomes in agriculture and vastly improved potential for cross-cutting collaboration are just some of the benefits that will accrue to content providers on VISTAAR.

If you are a content provider, you can either host your content on one of the existing provider platforms/state govt portals/websites on VISTAAR, or can even host on a provider platform if you have one by integrating it with VISTAAR via the sandbox certification Process. Once your content is hosted on the provider side of platform, the farmers and extension workers on the seeekr side of platforms can search, discover and access the content from the network as per the serach criteria utilised by the seekers

VISTAAR doent provide provide customized content to farmers , but VISTAAR enables structured information sharing via Beckn protocol that are also implemneted by the seeker platforms on the network, which can enable AI based services to personalize recommendations based on the user’s profile and past interactions. The open architecture of Vistaar allows third party developers to build applications that offer customized content and services to farmers based on location, climate etc.

Any content modification can be done by making changes in your provider platform content catalogue and content with approval from the respective authority before making it live and discoverable on the network

Agricultural best practices, Crop management techniques, Pest and disease control methods, Weather forecasts and alerts, Climate-resilient farming practices, Information related to government schemes and subsidies, etc.

Vistaar prioritizes verified information from trusted sources like agricultural research institutions and government agencies. Vistaar can connect you with agricultural service providers who can offer expert advice in their specific domains. Some Vistaar-integrated apps might offer community forum features where you can pose questions and get insights from other farmers or agricultural professionals.

Feedback for improvement is always welcome. Look for a rating/feedback option within the Vistaar app or platform you're using. Many mobile apps have a built-in feedback mechanism.

No, Vistaar itself is free of cost as it is a network for both content providers and information seekers. It aims to promote information sharing and accessibility within the agricultural sector.

The Vistaar Grid consists of several APIs, specifications and protocols that will connect data, advisory, content services and registries with content seekers through cross DPI integrations and Bhashini with the help of AI tools, web portals and apps.

Beckn protocol is a set of specifications consisting of APIs, data models, reference architecture, transaction mechanisms, and global standards that when adopted by digital platforms, enable the creation of decentralized networks. Such networks allow consumers and providers to discover, identify each other and perform transactions with each other without the need for a central intermediary. It can be thought of as a common set of rules of communication mutually agreed upon by several platforms to allow their users to perform discovery, ordering, fulfillment and post-fulfillment activities between each other in a standard way. It is a sector-agnostic protocol, meaning, any industry-specific taxonomy or knowledge model can be represented using the data model of Beckn protocol.

Open Networks like ONDC, ONEST, Unified Health Interface and Kenya ONE NETWORK make use of the Beckn protocol.

Beckn protocol is a set of specifications consisting of APIs, data models, reference architecture, transaction mechanisms, and global standards that when adopted by VISTAAR will enable the creation of a decentralised network. Such networks allow consumers and providers to discover, identify each other and perform transactions with each other without the need for a central intermediary. It can be thought of as a common set of rules of communication mutually agreed upon by several platforms to allow their users to perform discovery, ordering, fulfilment and post-fulfilment activities between each other in a standard way. It is a sector-agnostic protocol, meaning, any industry-specific taxonomy or knowledge model can be represented using the data model of Beckn protocol.

It does not do data collection. VISTAAR is built using Beckn Protocol which is only a set of documented transaction API specifications, it does not (and cannot) collect any data from any open network. Moreover, FIDE, the not-for-profit foundation behind Beckn, does not build any software or platform that connects to any of the open networks; and has no access to any customer or transaction data.

VISTAAR is simply built on a set of standard API specifications that enables platforms to perform economic transactions. The protocol itself does not have a storage or a database to hold the data being transmitted between the 2 platforms. Beckn Protocol allows policies (both human and machine readable) like GDPR, to be transmitted or broadcast to platforms thus allowing them to be aware of existing policies in a region. To further enable compliance of implementing platforms to local privacy laws, Beckn also allows consent to be transmitted on the protocol while any data sharing is done on independent infrastructure.

If you know stakeholders/platforms crucial for VISTAAR success, and can help farmers help us map them and host a dialogue or mini-Win Room by submitting the query or request via “Get Involved’ form. We will contact you to facilitate win rooms that will connect them with a robust integration workshop with live tech support.
Contact us/How to join?
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