IIT Kharagpur to start course on digitization of farming technologies

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, or IIT Kharagpur, will start an online course to train researchers in application of digital technologies in agriculture.

The online programme will be conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Food Engineering at IIT Kharagpur, an official statement said.

“Outreach projects in agricultural digitization are of paramount importance towards development and adoption of knowledge-intensive agriculture education. Globally researchers have been extending their support to precision farming and smart farming through innovations and data analytics,” Virendra Kumar Tewari, IIT Kharagpur director, said in the statement.

The short-term course will focus on teaching farmers about how to use technologies for enhancing productivity with minimal effort and cost.

This includes devices such as sensors, drones, robots, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, machine vision techniques, Computer Aided Design and advanced digital technologies application in agriculture.

“The recent calamities and their aftermath has shown we need to be ready for bad monsoon or climate change or even return to organic farming ways while enhancing agricultural yields by means of technology,” IIT Kharagpur director added.

The pilot programme will start with the postgraduate and doctoral students, faculty members, and scientists from the Vasantrao Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Maharashtra.

Need for the programme

Agriculture is the largest employment vertical of India with a GDP share of 14%.

India has been witnessing significant increase in yields and crop diversity due to mechanization programmes.

However, the high consumption due to population explosion and rising income has been a constant challenge for the agricultural sector.

The course envisages the enhancement of quality and relevance of agricultural higher education to the agricultural university students.

“It is crucial to empower the human resources with digital technologies in the field of agricultural science and technology, particularly in less-explored domains,” said Rajendra Machavaram, joint principal investigator of the NAHEP-CAST, IIT Kharagpur.

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