Launch of Agrihub at IIT Indore: New centre for technological innovation in agriculture

IIT Indore inaugurated the Center of Excellence (CoE) Agrihub on 27th January 2025, aimed at advancing agriculture through cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL). Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The event was also attended by Dr. C.R. Mehta, Director, ICAR-CIAE Bhopal, Shri Mangesh Ethirajan, Director General, C-DAC, and Dr. Kunwar Harendra Singh, Director, ICAR-IISR Indore.

Chief Guest Shri S. Krishnan highlighted the multi-disciplinary nature of the project, noting that prestigious institutions such as IIT Indore, ICAR, and C-DAC are joining forces to revolutionize the agriculture sector using high-performance computing (HPC) and AI. He stressed the crucial role of start-ups in driving innovation, emphasizing that their collaboration with traditional industries will fast-track the adoption of modern technologies, ultimately boosting agricultural productivity and increasing farmers’ income. Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Madhya Pradesh Shri Sanjay Dubey, , described the project as an important step towards solving agricultural challenges through technology. He said that modern technologies like GIS and drones are being effectively used for the benefit of farmers. Such innovations will help establish Madhya Pradesh as a leading state in agricultural technology, he added.

Agrihub: A Hub for Agricultural Innovation

Agrihub, established at IIT Indore, is a collaborative initiative that brings together multiple sectors and institutions to drive innovation in Indian agriculture by integrating it with modern technologies. Serving as a coordinating platform, Agrihub will unite researchers, agricultural experts, and farmers, enabling key stakeholders to collaborate on developing new agricultural technologies. The initiative will also focus on fostering start-ups, creating job opportunities, promoting industry partnerships, and encouraging the development of patents and research publications. Additionally, it will provide mentorship to students and organize entrepreneurship workshops. Within five years, Agrihub aims to establish a self-sustaining ecosystem, ensuring its long-term sustainability even after the initial financial support ends.

Revolutionizing agriculture with AI and HPC

A private cloud and high-performance computing (HPC) system will be set up under this project in collaboration with IIT Indore and C-DAC Pune. It will be used in research on drought-resistant crops, precision farming and AI-based disease diagnosis. Data-driven agriculture will be promoted through big data analytics and genomics research.

Government Partnership and Commitment

The Agrihub project is being funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Government of Madhya Pradesh for a period of five years. The project reflects the government’s commitment towards ensuring the incorporation of modern technologies in Indian agriculture.

Director, IIT Indore’s view

Prof. Suhas Joshi, Director, IIT Indore said that the project has been designed to accelerate the pace of development of new varieties of crops through an integrated platform of genome sequencing and big data analysis. High-throughput sequencing and innovative genome analysis software will enable the development of high-yielding crops even in adverse climatic conditions. He also said that technologies such as drone imaging, AI-powered crop forecasting, and smart farm management will help farmers have better production and higher incomes. The project will develop new start-ups, intellectual property (IP), research publications, and innovations in agricultural genomics.

Project leaders and objectives

Prof. Aruna Tiwari and Prof. Pawan Kankar of IIT Indore are spearheading the Agrihub project. Prof. Tiwari emphasized that the goal is to integrate scientific innovation with agricultural practices, aiming to deliver tangible benefits to farmers, researchers, and the agricultural community. This Center of Excellence will foster a technological innovation ecosystem by gathering insights and ideas from farmers, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

To implement AI/ML-based agricultural solutions, Agrihub has established a robust system of high-performance computing (HPC) and big data analytics.

Technical Skills and Job Creation

The project is set to increase the demand for programmers and data scientists with specialized skills in agricultural data analytics and HPC-based decision systems. To address this need, Agrihub will offer training programmes and workshops, providing essential skill development opportunities for students and the technical community. This initiative will not only give pace to innovation in the agriculture sector but also contribute to job creation in the IT and computing industries. It will help create a technologically enabled agricultural ecosystem.