Agri varsity to host spl exhibition on smart farming at Kisan Mela

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is all set to host a two-day academia-industry exhibition on emerging digital technologies for smart agriculture on March 20 and 21, during the Kisan Mela here, said officials.

They said the School of Digital Innovations for Smart Agriculture (S-DISA) has been established at the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology at the PAU.

According to the officials, the college has set up S-DISA to focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics to create smarter farming solutions.

Manjeet Singh, dean, COAET, said the PAU is focussing on digital innovations for smart agriculture during the series of Kisan Melas this month.

He said through S-DISA, the university will promote AI-powered solutions, IoT and futuristic tools to improve farming efficiency, reduce input costs, and enhance sustainability.

He said the special showcase will be at the Digital Technology Park for Futuristic Smart Farming, developed by the PAU in collaboration with Punjab and Sind Bank under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

The initiative, under the project titled “Futuristic Farming: Demonstrating Cutting-Edge Agri-Techniques for Resource Conservation”, is a major step forward in advancing agricultural practices through innovation, Singh added.

Singh said about 25 to 30 startups supported by the Punjab Agri Business Incubator (PABI) will demonstrate during the event advanced and technology-driven machinery. He said the industry exhibition will feature companies that will showcase digital and precision farming technologies with focus on AI-powered plant-by-plant care and automation.

The mela also emphasises on water-efficient technologies, climate-resilient crop varieties and digital platforms for agricultural extension, particularly keeping in view water table depletion risks, he said.

The PAU will highlight its digital initiatives, including the PAU-Farmer Portal and PAU-Kisan App, providing real-time advisories, Singh said.

“Industries can position their brand as a leader in next-generation agriculture, demonstrate technology in a real farm ecosystem and explore pilot collaborations with the PAU,” he went on to add.

“Drone and robot manufacturers, and companies with agri tech solutions and smart irrigation solutions and systems are invited to showcase their technologies during the exhibition,” Singh said.

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