The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, has inaugurated AgriHub, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Center of Excellence (CoE) aimed at reshaping Indian agriculture. The AgriHub initiative is a joint effort with the Madhya Pradesh government and several agricultural research organizations, with a focus on integrating AI, Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) into sustainable farming practices.
The launch event was attended by key dignitaries, including S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, K.K. Singh, Joint Secretary Innovation and IPR Division MeitY, Sanjay Dubey, Additional Chief Secretary(ACS) S&T Madhya Pradesh, Dr. C.R. Mehta, Director, ICAR-CIAE Bhopal, Magesh Ethirajan, Director General, C-DAC, and Dr. Kunwar Harendra Singh, Director, ICAR-IISR Indore, as representatives from the collaborating institutes.
A Collaborative Approach to Address Agricultural Challenges
AgriHub aims to function as a platform for collaboration between farmers, researchers, breeders, industry professionals, and policymakers. By promoting knowledge exchange and resource-sharing, the center seeks to develop agricultural solutions tailored to India’s unique challenges. The primary objective is to optimize the use of technology to tackle pressing agricultural issues, including drought, flooding, and low crop productivity.
S. Krishnan highlighted the potential of AI and high-performance computing in transforming agriculture, stressing the importance of collaboration between startups and established industries. He emphasized that integrating modern technology into traditional farming practices could lead to higher crop yields and improved financial stability for farmers. Additional Chief Secretary of Science and Technology for Madhya Pradesh, Sanjay Dubey, echoed these sentiments, stating that the project aligns with the state’s commitment to technological advancements in agriculture.
Key Goals and Long-Term Vision
The AgriHub initiative is designed to create a self-sustaining ecosystem within five years. The focus areas include startup incubation, job creation, intellectual property development, academic publications, and industry partnerships. It aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical farming applications by providing modern technological tools and real-time data analytics for decision-making.
To achieve this, the center will work on genome sequencing, phenotype data analysis, and crop improvement strategies. By leveraging AI-driven precision agriculture techniques, including drone-based crop monitoring and automated disease detection, AgriHub will empower farmers with actionable insights to enhance productivity.
AI-Powered Tools for Agriculture
One of the key deliverables of AgriHub is the development of AI-driven mobile applications designed to assist farmers in real-time decision-making. Three major applications developed under this initiative include:
Ground Water Management App
This application is designed to measure groundwater levels, analyze trends and provide conservation insights. It features geolocation services, water level visualization and multilingual accessibility. The app was developed under the supervision of Prof. Aruna Tiwari at IIT Indore in collaboration with RuTAG IIT Delhi. It has also been introduced in four African countries—Sudan, Namibia, Zambia and Ghana—through a collaboration with the African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO).
The app addresses water scarcity by optimizing irrigation practices and informing policy decisions. Its ability to provide real-time data on groundwater levels helps both farmers and government agencies in planning sustainable water management strategies.
Crop Doctor: A Soybean Information App
Developed under the RuTAG initiative, this mobile application focuses on disease and insect identification in soybean crops. Available in English and Hindi, the app allows farmers to upload crop images for automated diagnosis. The AI-powered tool then provides recommendations for pest control and disease management. Given that soybean is a widely cultivated oilseed crop in India, the app is expected to have a substantial impact on mitigating crop losses. The app’s development was supervised by Prof. Aruna Tiwari in collaboration with Dr. Milind Ratnaparkhe of ICAR-IISR Indore.
Krishi Sewa: A Mobile App for Potato Farmers
Krishi Sewa is designed to assist potato farmers by providing guidance on disease and pest management. The app includes a database of 17 major potato diseases and insect infestations, along with AI-driven confidence score mechanisms for accurate identification. Farmers can answer questions related to crop symptoms to receive tailored recommendations for disease control.
As the project progresses, the app will integrate machine learning models to predict pest outbreaks based on weather conditions and soil health data. This initiative is expected to enhance agricultural resilience by enabling farmers to make data-driven decisions. Upon completion, the app will be handed over to ICAR-CIAE Bhopal for further implementation.
Industry and Government Support for AgriHub
The launch of AgriHub has received support from various government agencies and industry stakeholders. MeitY’s Joint Secretary for Innovation and IPR, K.K. Singh, acknowledged the complexities involved in coordinating multiple agencies for the initiative but emphasized the importance of seamless collaboration over the five-year development period.
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Dr. C.R. Mehta, Director of ICAR-CIAE Bhopal, and Dr. Kunwar Harendra Singh, Director of ICAR-IISR Indore, also expressed their commitment to supporting AgriHub’s research and innovation goals. Magesh Ethirajan, Director General of C-DAC, highlighted the role of AI in modernizing agricultural practices and fostering industry-academia partnerships.
Future Prospects and Sustainability
AgriHub is not just a short-term initiative but a long-term strategy to integrate technology into India’s agricultural framework. By fostering research and innovation, the center aims to drive entrepreneurship, support academic advancements, and strengthen industry collaborations.
With the development of AI-powered tools, such as precision agriculture systems and mobile applications, AgriHub is expected to improve productivity, minimize crop losses, and empower farmers with data-driven insights. Over the next five years, the initiative will focus on maintaining financial sustainability, ensuring that its technological advancements remain accessible to agricultural communities nationwide.
As AgriHub continues to expand its reach, it stands as a collaborative effort between academia, industry, and government sectors, working towards a technologically advanced and sustainable agricultural future for India.
