MEITY’s Rs 42 Cr agri-tech initiative finds home in SKUAST-K

Srinagar, Mar 22: In a significant move towards integrating cutting-edge technology into agriculture, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), Government of India, approved an Agri-Excellence Programme ‘Application of Electronics and ICT in Himalayan Region Crop Management’ and designated Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K) as the nodal institution for this prestigious initiative.

The project, sanctioned for four years and with a financial outlay of Rs 42 crore, is a collaborative effort involving premier institutions like the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Kolkata and Mohali, the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) Durgapur and Ludhiana, and the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI) Bangalore.

This is the first time MEITY has collaborated with an agricultural university in the country, a testament to SKUAST-K’s pioneering efforts in Artificial Intelligence and precision agriculture.

SKUAST-K’s establishment of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (CAIML) and its joint 4-year B Tech programme on AI in Agriculture with IIT Mandi were key factors in securing this project.

The university has also made significant strides in precision agriculture, including sensor-based fertigation systems and high-end protected cultivation techniques.

During its brief existence of less than a year, CAIML has secured five R&D projects and forged collaborations with leading institutions like IIT Mandi, IIT Ropar, IIT Bombay, and IIT Kanpur.

The agri-excellence programme aims to integrate advanced electronics, Artificial Intelligence, and precision agriculture to enhance J&K's bio-economy.

The project will focus on three key crops – saffron, walnut, and apple.

For saffron, robotic solutions will be developed for weed management, harvesting, and stigma separation.

Additionally, a model for the soilless cultivation of saffron will be devised to enhance productivity and sustainability.

For walnuts, a smart harvester, AI-driven segregation based on shell thickness and wholesomeness, and a rapid aflatoxin detection solution will be developed.

For apples, a non-invasive AI solution to detect internal quality defects will be introduced, aimed at improving market competitiveness and reducing post-harvest losses.

Additionally, the project will organise hackathons and grand challenges to explore further applications of electronics and ICT in crop management.

The initiative brings together some of the country’s top research institutions including C-DAC Kolkata and Mohali, CMERI Durgapur and Ludhiana, and CMTI Bangalore.

C-DAC Kolkata and Mohali are renowned for high-performance computing, AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity.

C-DAC has played a crucial role in India's technological evolution, including the development of the supercomputer PARAM.

CMERI Durgapur and Ludhiana is a premier research body under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

CMERI specialises in mechanical engineering innovations, including robotics, and renewable energy solutions for agriculture.

Operating under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, CMTI Bangalore is a leader in manufacturing technology and Industry 4.0 solutions, contributing significantly to India’s smart manufacturing and machine tool design sectors.

Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganie, hailed the project as a game-changer for Himalayan agriculture.

“This initiative will provide a dynamic platform for students and researchers to innovate, leveraging expertise and cutting-edge facilities from across five leading institutions,” he said.

Thanking Secretary MEITY, S Krishnan, Prof Ganie acknowledged the support of Deputy Director General, Agri Education, R C Agrawal; Additional Secretary, MEITY, Abhishek Singh; Group Coordinator, R&D Electronics and IT, MEITY, Sunita Verma; and Joint Director, MEITY, Om Krishan in making this project a reality.

He also highlighted the contributions of Director, C-DAC Kolkata, A S Murty; C-DAC Kolkata’s Hena Ray; Joint Director, CMTI Bangalore, Prakash Vinod; CMERI, Ludhiana’s Pradeep Rajan, and CMERI, Durgapur’s Dip Narayan Ray in shaping the programme.

SKUAST-K Vice Chancellor extended his congratulations to Principal Investigator of the project, Prof Syed Zameer Hussain, Co-Principal Investigators Showkat Rasool and Shabir Bhangroo, and associated scientists Prof Junaid Nazir Khan and Prof Sajad Baba for their relentless efforts in securing the project.