DST approves 110 crores to IIT Ropar for setting up a national hub to develop technologies for agriculture & water
Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar (File Image)PATIALA: In an exemplary decision, the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has approved a sum of Rs. 110 crores to set up a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) in the domain of Agriculture & Water Technology Development Hub (AWaDH).
AWaDH, is to bring solutions for stubble management, water quality improvement, mapping of hazardous substances in water/soil and their treatment, deployment of IoT based Cyber-Physical System (CPS) technologies in farming fields. The prime objective of this trailblazing hub is to make agriculture a profitable industry with highly optimized resource intake.
As part of an agrarian state, it has been one of the mandates of IIT Ropar to take up research aimed at addressing Water-Agriculture related issues. AWaDH is aimed to carry out translational research, and work with line departments to develop prototypes, finish products, and their implementation in the fields. It will provide a national platform for researchers and technologists to develop technologies and practices which can improve the overall landscape of the country in the domain of agriculture & water.
“In a world increasingly propelled by technology, Cyber-Physical System is an integrated system involving Sensors, Communication, Actuators, Control, interconnected computing networks and data analytics, which will help in developing solutions and technical support for scientific breakthroughs and Innovations related to issues of Agriculture and Water in the country. This novel mission by the Government of India will help the Agriculture and Water sector in the country by exposing it to cutting edge research”, said Prof. Sarit K Das, Director IIT Ropar.
The hub core team comprises of Prof. Prabir Sarkar (Stubble Management and Environment), Prof. Neeraj Goel (AI in Agriculture), Prof. Neelkanth Nirmalkar (Water Quality Management), Prof. Suman Kumar (IoTs and IoEs in Agriculture), Prof. L. Vijay Anand (Water and Soil Quality Management), Prof. Pushpendra P. Singh (Water/Soil Mapping-Hazardous substances) and Prof. Mukesh Kumar (AI based farm Surveillance).
When asked about the Agriculture and Water Hub initiative at IIT Ropar, the Hub Coordinator Prof. Pushpendra P. Singh recalled what Dr. MS Swaminathan-- the Father of Green Revolution in India-- said: “If agriculture goes wrong, nothing else will have a chance to go right in the country.”
Unfortunately, along with the success of the green revolution in India, the quality of soil and water and overall agricultural environment suffered degradation due to the excessive use of fertilizers, water and pesticides, used to grow more per hectare. At AWaDH, the main aim is to rectify this trend.
IIT Ropar team will develop technologies and agricultural practices which can improve the yield and minimize the hazardous substances reaching to the mouth of people. To achieve the goal of the hub, the team will connect with the farmers, listen to their problems and come up with viable, technology-based economic solutions.
AWaDH, is to bring solutions for stubble management, water quality improvement, mapping of hazardous substances in water/soil and their treatment, deployment of IoT based Cyber-Physical System (CPS) technologies in farming fields. The prime objective of this trailblazing hub is to make agriculture a profitable industry with highly optimized resource intake.
As part of an agrarian state, it has been one of the mandates of IIT Ropar to take up research aimed at addressing Water-Agriculture related issues. AWaDH is aimed to carry out translational research, and work with line departments to develop prototypes, finish products, and their implementation in the fields. It will provide a national platform for researchers and technologists to develop technologies and practices which can improve the overall landscape of the country in the domain of agriculture & water.
“In a world increasingly propelled by technology, Cyber-Physical System is an integrated system involving Sensors, Communication, Actuators, Control, interconnected computing networks and data analytics, which will help in developing solutions and technical support for scientific breakthroughs and Innovations related to issues of Agriculture and Water in the country. This novel mission by the Government of India will help the Agriculture and Water sector in the country by exposing it to cutting edge research”, said Prof. Sarit K Das, Director IIT Ropar.
The hub core team comprises of Prof. Prabir Sarkar (Stubble Management and Environment), Prof. Neeraj Goel (AI in Agriculture), Prof. Neelkanth Nirmalkar (Water Quality Management), Prof. Suman Kumar (IoTs and IoEs in Agriculture), Prof. L. Vijay Anand (Water and Soil Quality Management), Prof. Pushpendra P. Singh (Water/Soil Mapping-Hazardous substances) and Prof. Mukesh Kumar (AI based farm Surveillance).
When asked about the Agriculture and Water Hub initiative at IIT Ropar, the Hub Coordinator Prof. Pushpendra P. Singh recalled what Dr. MS Swaminathan-- the Father of Green Revolution in India-- said: “If agriculture goes wrong, nothing else will have a chance to go right in the country.”
Unfortunately, along with the success of the green revolution in India, the quality of soil and water and overall agricultural environment suffered degradation due to the excessive use of fertilizers, water and pesticides, used to grow more per hectare. At AWaDH, the main aim is to rectify this trend.
IIT Ropar team will develop technologies and agricultural practices which can improve the yield and minimize the hazardous substances reaching to the mouth of people. To achieve the goal of the hub, the team will connect with the farmers, listen to their problems and come up with viable, technology-based economic solutions.
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