DW Bureau / Ropar: ANNAM.AI, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture established by the Ministry of Education at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, on Thursday announced a series of initiatives to accelerate the adoption of AI-led, data-driven farming practices across India. As part of its efforts to build a scalable Weather Intelligence Network, ANNAM.AI has begun deploying 100 advanced AI-powered weather stations, with Punjab serving as the first implementation hub. Provided free of cost, these stations will deliver hyperlocal, real-time weather data to farmers, enabling informed decisions on sowing, irrigation, and crop protection. The initiative is designed for nationwide expansion to help reduce climate risks and enhance farm productivity.

Positioned as a digital public good for Indian agriculture, ANNAM.AI is developing scalable AI-driven technologies to make data-based farming accessible across the country. Supported by the Ministry of Education, the initiative will be rolled out in phases, with plans to expand to states including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra. To support effective adoption of these technologies, ANNAM.AI will also launch a fully funded AI skilling programme for 10,000 students, rural youth, and agri-professionals. The programme aims to build grassroots capabilities and create a skilled workforce capable of applying AI solutions in agriculture at scale.

Speaking at the Smart Agri Summit 2026 held at IIT Ropar, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said, “The future of farming lies in innovation and technology adoption, and AI has the potential to empower farmers. With rising climate risks, it is imperative to combine traditional knowledge with data-driven insights. I congratulate IIT Ropar’s ANNAM.AI for bringing cutting-edge technologies to benefit farmers.”

Dr Pushpendra Singh, Project Director, ANNAM.AI, said the initiative focuses on integrating research, technology, and field-level implementation to address real challenges faced by farmers. “By combining real-time data with scientific insights, we aim to make farming more productive, sustainable, and climate-resilient. These initiatives will help build a technology-driven agricultural ecosystem in India,” he added.

The Smart Agri Summit 2026 brought together stakeholders from government, academia, and the agri-tech industry to deliberate on the future of agriculture. The event featured panel discussions on farmer-centric solutions and data-driven farming, with participation from policymakers, researchers, industry experts, and innovators. It also served as a platform for collaboration and exchange of ideas, underscoring the importance of partnerships in advancing the sector.