In collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), IIT Indore has launched AgriHub, an AI-driven Center of Excellence (CoE) to foster technological innovation, startup incubation, and industry collaboration in agritech.

The inauguration of AgriHub on January 27, 2025, was graced by Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, as the Chief Guest. The event was also attended by Shri K.K. Singh, Joint Secretary, Innovation and IPR Division, MeitY, Shri Sanjay Dubey, Additional Chief Secretary, Science and Technology, Madhya Pradesh, Dr. C.R. Mehta, Director, ICAR-CIAE Bhopal, Shri Magesh Ethirajan, Director General, C-DAC, and Dr. Kunwar Harendra Singh, Director, ICAR-IISR Indore. The Madhya Pradesh government, ICAR-IISR Indore, ICAR-CIAE Bhopal, and C-DAC Pune support this landmark initiative.

AgriHub

As a transdisciplinary and multi-institutional collaborative platform, AgriHub aims to empower farmers, researchers, and breeders with AI-driven agritech solutions. The Center will focus on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) with agricultural practices to address critical challenges such as drought, floods, and low productivity.

AgriHub will streamline research and technology deployment by fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, ensuring that innovations are aligned with the real-world needs of farmers, NGOs, and agribusinesses. Over the next five years, it will establish a self-sustaining agritech ecosystem through job creation, startup incubation, patents, publications, industry partnerships, student mentorship, and entrepreneurship workshops.

AI-Driven Agricultural Growth

At the launch, Shri S. Krishnan highlighted AI’s transformative potential in agriculture, emphasizing its role in high-performance computing, big data analytics, and precision farming. He underscored the importance of fostering an AI-driven startup culture while advocating for strategic partnerships with established industries to drive innovation and maximize agricultural productivity.

Shri K.K. Singh acknowledged the operational challenges involved in managing a multi-agency initiative like AgriHub and stressed the need for seamless collaboration between Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) to achieve the project's objectives within the stipulated timeline.

Agricultural AI Innovation

Shri Sanjay Dubey, Additional Chief Secretary of Science and Technology, Madhya Pradesh, reiterated the state government’s commitment to technological agricultural interventions. He noted that Madhya Pradesh, a leader in agricultural technology adoption, is already leveraging GIS and drone-based data analytics for enhanced farm management. He expressed optimism that AgriHub would further strengthen the synergy between AI, geospatial tools, and emerging agritech solutions.

Conclusion

AgriHub represents a significant step towards self-reliance in AI-driven agricultural research and development. Integrating cutting-edge technologies with traditional farming practices aims to enhance food security, sustainability, and economic growth in India’s agrarian sector. With strong institutional backing and a clear roadmap for innovation, AgriHub is set to drive India’s agricultural transformation, positioning the nation as a global leader in AI-powered agritech solutions.

Source: PIB