Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, jointly inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh Agritech Innovation Hub and the Agritech Startup and Technology Showcase at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT), Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, today.
The event was also graced by Shri Surya Pratap Shahi, Cabinet Minister for Agriculture, Agricultural Education, and Agricultural Research, Government of Uttar Pradesh; Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar; Dr. K.K. Singh, Vice Chancellor, SVPUAT; and other distinguished dignitaries.
While addressing the audience, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology for designing a curriculum that aligns with the evolving needs of the time and will greatly benefit Indian farmers.
He said that the vision of a developed India is incomplete without developed villages and prosperous farmers, and this initiative is a meaningful and historic step in that direction. Shri Pradhan expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for encouraging technology-based agricultural innovations across the country.
As part of this initiative, he noted, the recent Union Budget announced the establishment of a 'Centre for Excellence' to ensure that the benefits of cutting-edge technologies like AI, machine learning, and data analytics reach India's agricultural fields.
He further said that the responsibility assigned to IIT Ropar to work on "AI in Agriculture" as a Centre of Excellence has culminated in the creation of this Agritech Innovation Hub. The Minister also stated that the soul of India resides in its fields and barns.
Although the service sector in the country has reached global standards, the fundamental basis of India’s prosperity still lies in its agricultural land, he emphasised. He added that the Prime Minister’s vision for the upliftment of farmers is being realised in Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath.
Shri Pradhan also said that the state is now gaining new vitality through the confluence of technology and innovation. Recalling the contributions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ji and Chaudhary Charan Singh ji towards farmers, Shri Pradhan said that a true tribute to them will be achieved when farmers’ incomes are doubled, making them self-reliant and prosperous.
Amid global food crises and the challenges posed by climate change, the need of the hour is to adopt chemical-free, natural farming and to ensure that technology moves from the field to the market, he said.
He also expressed hope that the Agritech Innovation Hub will provide new direction and momentum to the agricultural economy of North India. Speaking at the launch, Shri Jayant Chaudhary emphasized the hub’s significance in empowering rural youth and farmers alike to embrace a new era of agritech-driven progress.
He highlighted the importance of aligning tradition with technology. He said that the true transformation begins when innovation takes root in the soil. The AgriTech Innovation Hub in Meerut, supported by IIT Ropar’s deep-tech expertise, is not just a project it's a movement to empower our farmers as pioneers of precision agriculture, he added.
Shri Chaudhary also said that more than a facility, it is a collaborative ecosystem where farmers, researchers, and startups come together to co-create sustainable and scalable agri-solutions for the future.
After all, technology is truly meaningful only when it stays rooted in the ground it seeks to uplift, he stressed. As part of the programme, a session on Technology Demonstration was held at the Model Smart Farm at SVPUAT.
An MoU was signed between IIT Ropar and SVPUAT to foster academic and research collaboration in agritech. An exhibition was organised featuring twenty agritech startups, showcasing their innovative products and services.
A few progressive farmers were also felicitated in recognition of their contributions to modern and sustainable farming practices. The event also featured technology showcases, farmer-centric initiatives, and announcements of upcoming startup and skilling programmes, signalling a bold step towards building a future-ready agricultural ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh.
The Agri-tech Innovation Hub is equipped with IoT-enabled sensors, smart irrigation systems, automation technologies, and a real-time analytics platform to drive precision farming and promote sustainable agriculture.
The hub aims to bring together farmers, technologists, researchers, innovators, and stakeholders from state agricultural departments, academia, and agri-tech startups to co-create and adopt region-specific, scalable solutions.
IIT Ropar will contribute components from its Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Lab including IoT sensors, automation systems, and cloud computing infrastructure with a commitment of up to Rs. 75 lakhs.
The hub will also feature the installation of advanced data analytics platforms to enable real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making. In addition, IIT Ropar will offer technical expertise and guidance through its domain experts in IoT, AI, and CPS to support both implementation and ongoing monitoring.
The initiative includes comprehensive training and knowledge transfer through workshops and sessions for all stakeholders, ensuring effective adoption and capacity building. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) associated with the agricultural university will also be engaged to train farmers and rural youth.
The Agri-tech Innovation Hub marks a new chapter in India’s rural development story, where technology addresses the real needs of farmers, and innovation extends beyond laboratories to every acre of cultivable land.
It reflects a collective commitment to ensure that Indian agriculture not only feeds the nation but also empowers and sustains the millions who depend on it.