IIT-Ropar leads AI push in agriculture sector
Builds tech to improve farm yield, efficiency
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, has been tasked with leading a national initiative to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions for agriculture, under the Government of India’s programme to set up Centres of Excellence in key sectors.
The institute has already deployed nearly 100 advanced weather stations across Punjab, signalling early on-ground progress in building a data-driven farming ecosystem.
The project, ANNAM.AI (Alliance for Next-Gen Nourishment through Agriculture Modernisation), is part of a Rs 990-crore national initiative aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities in AI while addressing sector-specific challenges. At IIT-Ropar, the focus is on building scalable, farmer-centric technologies to improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability in agriculture.
Dr Pushpendra Singh, Project Director, ANNAM.AI at IIT-Ropar, said, “The initiative aims at empowering farmers with intelligent, data-driven tools that make agriculture more resilient and future-ready. By combining hyperlocal climate intelligence, precision advisories and AI-led crop diagnostics, we aim to enable better on-ground decision-making.”
The Centre of Excellence will deploy AI, machine learning, computer vision and Internet of Things (IoT)-based tools to tackle issues such as soil health, irrigation management, pest and disease detection, weather variability and supply chain inefficiencies. The initiative has begun its rollout in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
A key component of the project is its AI-powered advisory platform, including the Annam Chat Engine, which delivers real-time, hyperlocal information on weather, crop health and market conditions. This is supported by digital interfaces for agricultural experts, enabling faster and more accurate responses to farmer queries.
The project also includes deployment of Smart Weather and Agriculture Network (SWAN) systems that capture microclimate data — temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind and air quality — at the field level. This data is used to guide irrigation, predict risks and improve crop planning in the face of increasing climate uncertainty.
In addition, AI-led crop intelligence tools use image and sensor-based analysis to identify crops, assess damage and detect pest infestations early, allowing timely intervention and reducing losses.
Officials said the initiative aligns with national missions such as Digital Agriculture, AgriStack and the IndiaAI Mission and is envisioned as a digital public infrastructure for agriculture, enabling data-driven decision-making at scale.
Beyond technology deployment, IIT-Ropar will support research, innovation and skill development through collaborations, internships and academic programmes, creating a pipeline of expertise in agri-tech.
“Our vision is to build a farmer-centric ecosystem that enhances productivity while supporting sustainable growth and creating a robust national agricultural intelligence backbone for farmers and policymakers,” Dr Singh said.
