The Government of India has selected IIT Ropar’s ANNAM.AI as a Center of Excellence in Agriculture, which aims to create AI-powered solutions that can reach farmers on a large scale. In the first phase, the initiative will focus on key agricultural states—Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana—before expanding to other regions across the country.
The Government of India has established a Center of Excellence (CoE) In artificial intelligence for agriculture Indian Institute of Technology Ropar As part of a Rs 990 crore national initiative under the Education Ministry to set up AI CoEs in key sectors including agriculture, healthcare and sustainable cities.
Agriculture-focused CoE at IIT Ropar, annam.aiaims to develop scalable, AI-powered solutions for sustainable and precision farming, combining advanced academic research with real-world impact.
Transforming agriculture through AI
ANNAM.AI seeks to leverage artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technologies to transform agriculture in India. It involves the use of AI, computer vision, IoT and data science to address key agricultural challenges such as soil health, irrigation management, pest and disease detection, weather forecasting and supply chain issues.
The initiative is designed to promote sustainable farming practices, improve crop yields and increase agricultural efficiency through data-driven advisory and decision-support systems tailored to Indian conditions.
Dean of IIT Ropar, Dr. Pushpendra P. SinghLeading this initiative brings decades of experience in artificial intelligence, data science, and large-scale digital systems. He has worked extensively on AI, machine learning and data-driven decision platforms, focusing on applying advanced research to real-world challenges.
“In Phase 1A, the CoE will focus on three major agricultural states: Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana,” an IIT Ropar press release said.
Dr. Pushpendra P. Singh said AI has the potential to solve some of the most persistent on-ground challenges of agriculture, including uncertain prices, rising input costs and limited access to timely information. By combining real-time insights, market signals and predictive analytics, AI can help farmers choose the right crop for the right market, at the right time, directly supporting national goals of higher incomes and crop diversification.
Alignment with national missions
ANNAM.AI, as a Center of Excellence for Agricultural Intelligence, is closely aligned with the evolving India@2047 vision of the Government of India. It supports flagship programs like Atmanirbhar Bharat, Digital Agriculture Mission, Agristack, IndiaAI Mission, Digital India Mission, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
Through advanced analytics and AI-led decision support, the initiative aims to enhance climate resilience, promote food security and support rural development. It is also expected to contribute to India’s sustainable development goals, especially zero hunger and climate action.
Major Technology Platforms
One of its major innovations is Annam Chat Engine (ACE)A scalable agri-advisory platform that includes a farmer chat bot that provides hyperlocal crop advice, weather alerts and market insights. It also has a digital interface for farmer call centres, enabling advisors to respond efficiently with field-specific guidance.
swan systemA smart micro-climate infrastructure platform acts as a next-generation weather station by monitoring temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, UV radiation and air quality. It converts environmental data into actionable insights for irrigation planning and crop management.
agricultural intelligence, Another core solution provides crop identification, damage assessment and pest detection using image and sensor-based analytics, providing accurate and timely advisory support.
Industry and Institutional Collaboration
COE has signed MoU with Punjab Agri Export Corporation LimitedNorthern Farmers, a farmer-producer organization, and Indian Institute of Soil Science In Bhopal.
The initiative also provides access to high-end computing facilities, sensor laboratories and interdisciplinary research teams to accelerate innovation across the agricultural value chain.
Skills Development and Talent Pipeline
Apart from research, ANNAM.AI has launched educational and skill development initiatives including hackathons, internships and joint PhD programs to build sector-specific AI talent.
With its integrated approach combining depth of research, digital public infrastructure and field-level deployment, ANNAM.AI is expected to play a key role in building a technology-driven, inclusive and climate-resilient agricultural ecosystem in India.
