B Ashok, Project Director, KERA, was speaking after inaugurating the AgriNext Summit 2026 jointly organized by the Kerala Startup Mission, Department of Agriculture and the World Bank under the KERA project of the state government.
At the AgriNext Summit, experts challenged the common belief and highlighted that the advent of AI will increase job opportunities in the agriculture sector.
The event, jointly organized by Kerala Startup Mission, Department of Agriculture and the World Bank for the KERA project, was held at the Kerala Startup Mission premises. Around 50 MoUs were signed with farmers and start-ups at the summit.
Kerala project director and principal secretary B Ashok said integrating technology would attract more investment in agriculture and support cultivation of diverse crops. He said that farming can be made a profitable business by updating agricultural policies and incorporating modern technology.
He stressed the importance of recognizing the benefits that technology brings to farmers. Currently, robotics, drones and IoT technologies are used extensively in the plantation sector and large-scale agriculture. However, there is a need for technologies that can meet the needs of small farmers also.
State IT Special Secretary Seeram Sambasiva Rao said the summit would help in finding practical solutions to the problems of the agriculture sector through technology. The start-up ecosystem in Kerala has been able to solve various challenges faced by small and medium farmers.
While there are concerns about job losses in other sectors due to AI, KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika highlighted that employment opportunities in agriculture will increase significantly. Such exchange summits help address practical problems faced by common farmers and aim to protect the agriculture sector while promoting innovative technologies.
World Bank Representative Asseb Fisha Mekonnen said global experience shows that incubation plays a vital role in the success of agri-tech start-ups. He said that the KERA project will act as a bridge between farmers and start-ups.
Around 1,000 farmers and more than 256 selected agri-start-ups participated in the event organized on the theme “Technology in the field, yield transformation”.
Published on February 20, 2026
