In a focused effort to address the critical infrastructure gaps in Indian agriculture, Agrotech Space, in partnership with Reskilll, hosted the second edition of the Agrotech Space Hackathon at the Microsoft Office, Noida, accompanied by a high-impact panel discussion. Backed by Microsoft Azure and the Azure Developer Community, the Agrotech Space hackathon brought together developers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to brainstorm, build and debate the future of scalable, sustainable agriculture.
Focus on Transportation and Irrigation Challenges
The Agrotech Space Hackathon targeted two critical challenges in Indian agriculture: optimizing transport logistics to tackle inefficiencies like underutilized trucks, poor infrastructure, and delayed deliveries, and creating renewable energy-driven smart irrigation systems that use IoT to monitor soil moisture and weather for efficient water management. Participants were tasked with developing technology-driven, scalable, and sustainable solutions that improve farmer engagement, ensure timely delivery of perishable goods, and make irrigation affordable and accessible—even in remote areas. The goal was to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and support long-term resilience for farmers across regions.
The Hackathon: Addressing Challenges with Technology
The Agrotech Space Hackathon witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 80 participants actively engaging in the challenge. Teams dedicated themselves to developing groundbreaking solutions aimed at optimizing transport logistics for farmers and renewable energy-driven smart irrigation system for water efficiency. The Agrotech Space Hackathon was evaluated by a panel of experts, including Rajesh Panchal (Senior Consultant, Microsoft) and the panelists. Their assessment focused on the relevance, scalability, and field-readiness of the solutions presented.
Also read: Tech Meets Tillage: Agrotech Space Hackathon to Explore Smart Solutions for Rural India
Winners of the Hackathon
The second edition of the Agrotech Space Hackathon concluded with three standout teams taking home top honors for their practical, scalable and tech-driven solutions to critical agricultural challenges.
Git Push Mafia
Git Push Mafia emerged as the winner for their solution, AgroBuddy, developed in response to the challenge of building a renewable energy-driven smart irrigation system for water efficiency. AgroBuddy is an AI-powered application designed to streamline and enhance traditional farming practices. Addressing inefficiencies in irrigation, the solution leverages IoT sensors and location-based analytics to collect real-time data on soil health and moisture, and uses predictive analytics to plan irrigation schedules.
It integrates an AI-driven disease and pest recognition system using image processing, a multilingual voice-enabled Talkbot for localised support, and a marketplace module for price forecasting and logistics coordination. The tool offers tailored farming advice, weather updates, government scheme alerts, and insights to help farmers make informed decisions.
GreenMinds
GreenMinds took the first runner-up position with EthaVan, a mobile ethanol production unit that transforms agricultural waste into clean fuel at the point of origin. Addressing the transport logistics and environmental issues tied to stubble burning, EthaVan is a trailer-mounted, portable system capable of processing various feedstocks such as rice and wheat straw, corn stover, and bamboo. Each unit produces approximately 100 litres of ethanol per day and incorporates heat recovery systems with optional solar integration.
Digitally controlled using SCADA for remote monitoring, the unit supports local fuel generation, reduces pollution, and creates rural income opportunities. To overcome challenges like feedstock supply, permitting, and technology adoption, the team proposed solutions such as community aggregation networks, working with state nodal agencies, and offering leasing and funding models to increase accessibility.
Old School
Old School, the second runner-up, addressed the irrigation inefficiency problem by developing a modular and scalable smart irrigation system based on Arduino ESP32 microcontrollers. Their system includes real-time soil moisture sensors, relay modules, and ultrasonic sensors for tank water level monitoring. It automates the irrigation process, reduces manual labour, and ensures precise water usage by activating pumps only when necessary. The system is compatible with both offline and online setups, allowing use in remote areas with limited connectivity. The IoT-based framework supports cloud data monitoring and is capable of expansion to multiple farm zones.
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The second edition of Agrotech Space Hackathon 2025 underscored the potential of collaborative efforts in addressing agricultural challenges, setting the stage for continued innovation and impact in the sector.