This National Seminar was held on 19th Jan 2019 on the topical subject Digital India for Agricultural and Rural development – Scope and Limitations. The subject represented in leveraging Make in India for Agriculture and utilization of specialist’s knowhow for indigenous agriculture. The efficient management of technology is in great demand in order to respond to the emerging environment. Digital India for Agricultural and Rural Development will enable the farmers to associate effectively with the trade networks, buyers, sellers, transporters, banks and other financial institutions timely as well in a cost efficient manner.
Eminent speakers of varied backgrounds with industry and domain experience shared their expertise, experience, knowledge and discussed the initiatives taken and required to build Digital India for Agricultural and Rural Development.
Dr. U.S. Saha, Chief General Manager, NABARD delivered the inaugural address and explained importance and the need for Technology in Agricultural sector and discussed how technology helps in various areas like crop product, value addition in supply chain management, agricultural product marketing and knowledge repository for better waste management thereby maximizing the production with little wastage.
Mr. Ramesh Kauta, Chief Technology Officer, NABARD delivered key note address on concerns and challenges of Agricultural technologies as a diversified crop production Pan India. Further he discussed Industrial Agricultural aspects and technological constraints for the same. Challenges’ in farmer financial management, with market access to produce the various products and commercialization of product with the help of technology.
Mr. Nirupam Malhotra, Deputy General Manager, NABARD, spoke about how private sector of our population is indirectly engaged in agriculture, discussed central problem in agriculture for the individual farmer and the result of NABARD survey improving the average income of farmer. He emphasized the importance of IOT application and development and how it can benefit rural India.
Mr. Shreyash Sigtia, Industry Head, Consumer Packaged Goods, Google India, delivered a keynote address on challenges faced by agricultural sector in India. Mr. Sigtia articulated how everybody is connected to technology and how technology is part of our everyday life. He discussed how technology plays vital role in common man life in various countries. Internet enabled technology creates ease in agricultural sector.
Mr. Nehal Gandhi, Sales Head – India Asia, Digital Transformation, MASTEK, presented detailed review of Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Machine learning and Mobility technologies for diversified agricultural production, why it is important; its relevance with Indian context and how it will contribute to agricultural sector in India, towards green revolution.
Mr. Sanjay Kimbahune, Sr. Scientist, TCS, R&I Embedded Systems and Robotics, delivered keynote address about the need of Information Technology in Agriculture Sector. He articulated how farmers are starved for timely information and the duress they need to encounter every day. He discussed about mKrishi Project, agricultural medical diagnostics for rural upliftment, various fishery project and various committees’ functional area in Agricultural technology. He emphasized the importance of Transformation of Field Agricultural Platform to Digital Agricultural Platform in rural India.
Technical presentations and Valedictory session was concluded with vote of thanks by the Seminar Coordinator Prof. N. Balasubramanian. The students who are the future managers and the faculty and the delegates of the seminar were sensitized about the need of Agricultural technology and how important to enhance it for a sustainable world by these experts. The expertise, experience, initiatives, information and perceptions brought in new dimensions and vista for all the participants.