GFF2026 witnessed an insightful fireside chat between Dr Shaji Krishnan V, Chairman, NABARD, and Ms Latha Venkatesh, Consulting Editor, CNBC-TV18, exploring how technology and Digital Public Infrastructure can build connected financial ecosystems and bridge the rural-urban divide.

At the centre of the conversation was the role of technology in transforming rural finance - from leveraging tokenisation for farm produce and AI-driven crop insurance to enabling interoperable payment systems to empower farmers and rural entrepreneurs.

Elaborating on NABARD’s tech-led initiatives, the Chairman spoke about the development of AI models for on-demand Kisan Credit and state-specific databases to support climate-resilient agriculture.

In closing, the conversation pointed to a larger opportunity: utilising technology not merely to expand access, but to create smarter, more inclusive and trusted ecosystems that take innovation to the last mile.