International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Hyderabad recently announced the opening of an Innovation Hub (iHub) — a creative space where agricultural technology entrepreneurs, scientists and technology experts come together to innovate cutting-edge ideas across the agriculture value chain. Meant essentially for smallholder farmers, it promises to increase their productivity and income.

The advisory council includes Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary for IT in Telangana; Anil Bhansali, Managing Director of Microsoft, India; Rama Iyer, senior Vice-President of T-Hub; Dr Praveen Rao, Vice-Chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University; Parthasarathi, Principal Secretary, Agriculture in Telangana; David Bergvinson, Director General, ICRISAT and convener Ram Dhulipala.