IIT Ropar To Lead National AI Push In Agriculture Under Rs 990 Crore Initiative

The Government of India has established a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture at the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar as part of a Rs 990 crore national initiative under the Ministry of Education to set up AI CoEs in key sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, and sustainable cities.

The agriculture-focused CoE at IIT Ropar, ANNAM.AI, aims to develop scalable, AI-driven solutions for sustainable and precision farming while combining advanced academic research with real-world impact.

Transforming Agriculture Through AI

ANNAM.AI seeks to leverage artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technologies to transform agriculture in India. This includes the use of AI, computer vision, IoT, and data science to address key agricultural challenges such as soil health, irrigation management, pest and disease detection, weather forecasting, and supply chain issues.

The initiative is designed to promote sustainable farming practices, improve crop yields, and enhance farm efficiency through data-driven advisory and decision-support systems tailored to Indian conditions.

IIT Ropar’s Dean, Dr Pushpendra P. Singh, is leading the initiative, bringing decades of experience in artificial intelligence, data science, and large-scale digital systems. He has worked extensively on AI, machine learning, and data-driven decision platforms, focusing on applying advanced research to real-world challenges.

“In Phase 1A, the CoE will focus on three major agricultural states: Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana,” an IIT Ropar press release stated.

Dr Pushpendra P. Singh said that AI has the potential to address some of agriculture’s most persistent on-ground challenges, including uncertain prices, rising input costs, and limited access to timely information. By combining real-time insights, market signals, and predictive analytics, AI can help farmers choose the right crop, at the right time, for the right market, directly supporting national goals of higher incomes and crop diversification.

Alignment With National Missions

ANNAM.AI, as a Centre of Excellence for Agricultural Intelligence, aligns closely with the Government of India’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision. It supports flagship programmes such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Digital Agriculture Mission, AgriStack, the IndiaAI Mission, the Digital India Mission, the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the National Food Security Mission, and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

Through advanced analytics and AI-led decision support, the initiative aims to enhance climate resilience, boost food security, and support rural development. It is also expected to contribute to India’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Zero Hunger and Climate Action.

Key Technology Platforms

Among its flagship innovations is the Annam Chat Engine (ACE), a scalable agri-advisory platform that includes a Farmer Chat Bot delivering hyperlocal crop advice, weather alerts, and market insights. It also features a digital interface for Kisan Call Centres, enabling advisors to respond efficiently with region-specific guidance.

The SWAN system, a smart micro-climate infrastructure platform, functions as a next-generation weather station by monitoring temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind, UV radiation, and air quality. It converts environmental data into actionable insights for irrigation planning and crop management.

Krishi Intelligence, another core solution, provides crop identification, damage assessment, and pest detection using image- and sensor-based analytics, offering precise and timely advisory support.

Industry And Institutional Collaborations

The CoE has signed memoranda of understanding with the Punjab Agri Export Corporation Ltd., Northern Farmers, a farmer-producers organisation, and the Indian Institute of Soil Sciences in Bhopal.

The initiative also provides access to high-end computing facilities, sensor laboratories, and interdisciplinary research teams to accelerate innovation across the agricultural value chain.

Skill Development And Talent Pipeline

In addition to research, ANNAM.AI has launched academic and skill development initiatives, including hackathons, internships, and joint PhD programs to build sector-specific AI talent. 

With its integrated approach combining research depth, digital public infrastructure, and field-level deployment, ANNAM.AI is expected to play a pivotal role in building a technology-driven, inclusive, and climate-resilient agricultural ecosystem in India.