In a major stride toward revolutionizing agriculture in northern India, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and MoS Jayant Chaudhary on Tuesday jointly inaugurated the #UttarPradesh Agritech Innovation Hub and #StartupTechnologyShowcase at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (#SVPUAT) in Meerut.
The initiative aims to promote #PrecisionFarming, #SustainableAgriculture, and technology-led growth in the farming sector.
Aligning Education with the Future of Agriculture
Commending SVPUAT for designing a curriculum that meets the demands of modern agricultural practices, #DharmendraPradhan emphasized that this launch is a historic step toward achieving a #ViksitBharat (Developed India).
“The dream of a developed India cannot be realized without prosperous villages and empowered farmers,” he remarked.
He acknowledged #PMModi’s vision and support in fostering # technology-driven farming through budgetary announcements and strategic investments.
Centre of Excellence: AI in Agriculture
The minister spotlighted the Union Budget’s commitment to advanced technology in agriculture, specifically referencing the government’s plan to establish a Centre for Excellence in AI for Agriculture, entrusted to IIT Ropar.
This vision has now materialized through the Agritech Innovation Hub at SVPUAT.
“India’s services sector may be global, but our true prosperity remains rooted in our farmlands,” Pradhan added, praising #YogiAdityanath’s leadership in advancing Uttar Pradesh’s agritech transformation.
Remembering Leaders Who Championed Agriculture
Honoring the legacies of #SardarVallabhbhaiPatel and #ChaudharyCharanSingh, Pradhan said true homage would be when FarmersIncomeDoubles, and farming becomes not just viable but #selfreliant.
He emphasized the urgent need for a transition to ChemicalFreeFarming, adoption of NaturalFarming, and bridging the lab-to-land gap with cutting-edge technology. #JaiKisan
Jayant Chaudhary: “When Innovation Takes Root in the Soil”
#JayantChaudhary, Minister of State for Education and Skill Development, described the hub as a collaborative ecosystem where farmers, researchers, startups, and technologists co-create region-specific, scalable agritech solutions.
“True transformation begins when innovation takes root in the soil,” Chaudhary said, adding that Meerut’s hub—supported by IIT Ropar’s expertise—will help empower #ruralyouth and make farmers leaders in innovation.
He stressed that technology must remain grounded in the fields it aims to uplift.
Innovation in Action: MoU, Demos, and Startups
As part of the launch event, a technology demonstration session was held at SVPUAT’s #ModelSmartFarm. A significant #MoU was signed between #IITRopar and SVPUAT to boost #academia-industry collaboration in agritech innovation.
An exhibition of 20 cutting-edge agritech startups showcased innovations such as:
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Smart irrigation
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IoT-based soil and weather sensors
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Automated farm machinery
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Real-time crop analytics platforms
Progressive farmers were also felicitated for their leadership in sustainable farming practices. #StartupShowcase #AgriInnovation #GreenTech
Inside the Agritech Innovation Hub
The newly inaugurated Agritech Innovation Hub is outfitted with:
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#IoT-enabled sensors
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Smart irrigation systems
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Automation technologies
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Real-time analytics platforms for precision farming
The hub will serve as a collaborative platform for:
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#Farmers
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#Researchers
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#Technologists
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#Startups
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State agricultural departments
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Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
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Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
IIT Ropar’s Technical Backbone
#IITRopar will play a central role through its Cyber-Physical Systems Lab, contributing:
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IoT sensors
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Cloud computing infrastructure worth ₹75 lakh
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Advanced automation systems
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Support in #AI, #MachineLearning, and #CPS (Cyber Physical Systems)