IIT Ropar’s Centre of Excellence for AI in Agriculture, ANNAM.AI, has launched AVNI – Grow with Nature, a digital learning initiative that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and experiential learning to introduce children to agriculture, plants and nature from an early age.
Developed by Dr Mukesh Saini, Co-project Director of ANNAM.AI, AVNI is available as a web and mobile application. The platform is designed to help children understand where their food comes from, how crops grow and the role agriculture plays in everyday life and the wider economy.
AVNI combines AI-powered identification with hands-on exploration, allowing children to learn about crops, fruits, vegetables, spices, cereals and millets through their surroundings. The platform provides learning content in Hindi and English and includes audio features for younger children.
The initiative also offers daily challenges, Nature Points, a digital Nature Book and Nature Gallery, along with interactive features such as Crop Compare. ANNAM.AI said the platform has been designed to make agricultural learning simple, engaging and accessible beyond the classroom.
Dr Mukesh Saini said AVNI has been developed as a free, ad-free and privacy-focused learning platform, with emphasis on safe exploration and discovery for children.
Dr Pushpendra P. Singh, Project Director, ANNAM.AI, said agricultural learning need not begin in a classroom or only when a child chooses agriculture as a subject. A crop in a school garden, a fruit at home or a plant in the neighbourhood can become an opportunity for learning, he said.
The initiative also reflects ANNAM.AI’s broader focus on responsible technology and child-focused digital learning, with emphasis on age-appropriate content, privacy and a safe environment.
According to ANNAM.AI, AVNI is part of its wider vision of developing AI-powered Digital Public Infrastructure for Indian agriculture through open, accessible and scalable technologies. The centre works across AI, climate intelligence, digital agriculture, farmer advisory and capacity building to strengthen India’s agricultural ecosystem.