Project VISTAAR: IIT Madras collaborates with agriculture ministry to boost agri startups

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has entered into a partnership with the ministry of agriculture and farmer welfare on project Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources (VISTAAR) aimed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the agricultural extension system through digitisation.

The agreement between IIT Madras and the union agriculture ministry focuses on improving project VISTAAR by inducting information about startups in agriculture and allied sectors to enable farmers to be aware of the startup capabilities.

Highlighting the importance of this collaboration, Thillai Rajan A, head, centre for research on startup, IIT Madras, said: “Agriculture forms the backbone of India’s social and economic rubric. Ensuring a strong agriculture sector therefore becomes a major policy imperative. Start-ups have an important role to play in bringing innovation across the value chain in the agriculture and allied sectors.”

“The Start-up information platform developed by the Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing at IIT Madras along with its incubated start-up YNOS Venture Engine has information about 12,000 start-ups that are connected to the agriculture and farming sectors,” Rajan A added.

Samuel Praveen Kumar, joint secretary (extension), ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, stated: “Innovative technologies of Agri Start-ups contribute towards making Agriculture sustainable and climate resilient and therefore connecting the technology of Agri startups with farmers through Extension is critical from an access and adoption perspective and the collaboration with IITM would surely pave way for achieving this objective through VISTAAR DPI for Agriculture Extension.”

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Explaining about the significance and importance of startups in the agriculture field, the institute explained that startups are known for their innovation and capabilities to use technology to bring new products and services to the agriculture market.

Project VISTAAR: A boon for farmers

The context of the agriculture sector presents unique opportunities for startups, both from the supply side and demand side, the institute said. The technologies and innovations can benefit the farmers in agriculture and allied sectors to improve efficiencies and productivity while also helping on market information, the institute added.

The agreement between the two will enable farmers and other stakeholders in agriculture and allied sectors to be aware of the capabilities and offerings that startups have and easily access them.