MEERUT, 10 July 2025: In a major push to transform Indian agriculture through cutting-edge technology, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State for Education and Skill Development Jayant Chaudhary jointly inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh Agritech Innovation Hub and Startup Showcase at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT) in Meerut.
The hub is part of a national initiative announced in the Union Budget 2025 to establish Centres of Excellence in Agricultural Technology across India. Backed by technical support from IIT Ropar, the Meerut centre will serve as a regional hub for AI-driven, IoT-enabled, and data-centric farming solutions.
Revolutionizing Indian Agriculture at the Grassroots
Speaking at the launch, Minister Pradhan emphasized the importance of taking innovation to the fields:
“India’s prosperity still rests on its farmlands. While our services sector has earned global acclaim, the real soul of the nation lies in its fields and barns. This initiative will inject fresh energy into Uttar Pradesh’s farming economy.”
Pradhan credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for positioning technology as the cornerstone of India's agricultural transformation, highlighting the role of AI, machine learning, and data analytics in improving productivity and farmer incomes.
Minister Jayant Chaudhary called the initiative a game-changer for rural India:
“True transformation begins when innovation takes root in the soil. This hub is a collaborative platform where farmers, startups, and researchers can co-create sustainable and scalable solutions.”
He stressed the need to make these technologies accessible to small and marginal farmers, balancing traditional wisdom with smart agriculture practices.
Strategic Collaborations and Startup Innovation
The launch event witnessed the signing of an MoU between IIT Ropar and SVPUAT, paving the way for joint research, academic exchange, and real-world innovation in agritech.
A technology demonstration session at SVPUAT’s Model Smart Farm showcased 20 promising agritech startups, displaying innovations such as:
- Smart irrigation systems
- AI-powered crop monitoring tools
- IoT-based soil health sensors
Several progressive farmers were also felicitated for embracing sustainable and tech-enabled practices, reinforcing the hub’s commitment to inclusivity and farmer-led innovation.
Infrastructure and Impact
The Agritech Innovation Hub is equipped with:
- IoT-enabled sensors for precision farming
- Automation tools for efficient resource use
- Real-time analytics platforms for actionable decision-making
- With ₹75 lakh in technical assistance from IIT Ropar’s Cyber-Physical Systems Lab, the hub will also conduct:
- Hands-on training workshops
- Farmer knowledge-sharing sessions
- Capacity-building programs through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
Officials envision this model as replicable across India, aligning with the government’s “Viksit Bharat” vision to empower rural communities through technology.
