Bangalore, India – : IIIT-Bangalore organized a workshop on July 5 at Krishi Vignana Kendra (KVK) in Hirehalli, Tumakuru, to create digital solutions that boost farmers’ income. The event brought together Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and innovators, facilitated by Dr. Loganandan, Scientist & Head at Hirehalli KVK, Government of India.

The workshop was led by Dr. Lakshmi Jagannathan, CEO of IIITB-Innovation Centre, Prof. Ramesh Kestur of IIIT-B, and Keerthi Prabha, Deputy Manager at NABARD.

Dr. Lakshmi explained, “This unique initiative is to bring together technology innovators/startups and FPOs / Farmers to co create digital solutions for identified problems on the ground. These problems can vary from real-time weather updates, crop data, precision farming tools to modern machinery to optimize resources and increasing yields. Ultimately we want to involve all the stakeholders in this ecosystem to create synergy and solve problems.”

Prof. Debabrata Das, Director of IIIT-Bangalore, said, “Combining modern digital technologies with traditional farming can greatly improve productivity and sustainability. By providing farmers with innovative tools and platforms, we can enhance agricultural outcomes.”

Farmers face several challenges, including unpredictable weather, limited access to timely information, and inefficient resource use. Relying on outdated methods, farmers face low yields and poor crop quality.

Digital platforms streamline farming processes and improve market access, ensuring farmers receive better prices for their produce. Employing digital solutions ultimately leads to higher yields, better quality crops, and increased profitability, transforming the agricultural landscape.

The collaborative effort demonstrated at the workshop aims to revolutionize farming through digital solutions, significantly bolstering efficiency and profitability for farmers. The session highlighted the transformative potential of digital innovation in agriculture, heralding a new era of smart farming.