Agri Tech Webinar organized at Amity University Haryana

Gurugram: April 8th, 2021: At a time when the care and concern for life has taken a precedence over growth and development, it is absolutely necessary to pay an added attention to the essentials for survival that include food and nutrition, potable water and clean air. Naturally so, the Govt of India have initiated several missions in the recent past such as, National Clean Air mission, Gurujal and Namami Gange and lately provided a great impetus on circular economy that aims at creating an enabling environment for most effective waste management, accelerated production and use of renewable energy and water conservation in all sectors of economy, more so in the agriculture sector that is a major consumer of freshwater. All these would require taking masses on board and penetrate deep into rural India with most modern technologies.

However, on top of all this is the concern for proving a significant boost to rural economy, that besides assuring food security, shall create jobs in millions for the young, inspired minds both in rural as well as in urban India. But then it requires a totally new approach to farming and a rapid growth of high-tech Agri-tech startups in rural India. We need to create an intense urge to "Go Rural with High Tech Minds and with Scientific Solutions" opined Prof P B Sharma, Vice Chancellor of Amity University Haryana while delivering his welcome address at the high impact webinar on ?Use of ICT and Youth for Agriculture Development- the Need of the Hour? organised today on 8th April 2021.

Addressing the large gathering of senior scientists, Deans, Head of Institutions, Faculty and Students of Amity University from AUH and 11 different Amity campuses in India, the Principal Scientist of Dr M S Swaminathan Research Foundation Dr N Parasuraman said ?A new wave of Green Revolution is on the card with high technology moving towards rural India. We need to empower our farmers with new gen technologies and agri-process as also to have a new impetus to Agri-clinics, agribusiness hubs and food tech parks to reap a rich harvest to rural economy?.

The webinar was also addressed by the Chairman of FICCI Task force on AgriTechstartups Shri Hemendra Mathur who said ?The participation of rural youth should be given an added focus along with fostering new agritechstartups in rural India?. Inspired minds of youth who have knowledge of high technologies and are desirous of creating successful startups should come forward now that the desired ecosystem for innovation and start up is in place.

The unique feature of today?s webinar was the share of success by Shri Sachin Darbarwar, Founder and CEO of Simply Fresh India who after spending 15 years in SW profession returned to India along with his wife Ms Sweta to establish the agri-tech star tup that integrates most advanced AI and IT solutions into energy and water efficient, highly productive venture that today has grown to great eminence on 150 acres of precision farming producing farm fresh vegetables along with a wide variety of medicinal plants using hydroponic farming. The produce from such an innovative and smart farming are both safe and of world quality, Shri Sachin Said.

In his words of wisdom at the High Impact webinar, the Hon?ble Chancellor of Amity University Haryana, Dr Aseem Chauhan said ?We must look at tomorrows India that requires a renewed focus on sustainability and jobs. Much of this shall depend upon our ability in the university community to inspire youth to turn towards rural with tomorrows Agri-tech solutions?. Amity University lays a great emphasis on integrative sciences and innovative solutions to today?s as well as future challenges, said Dr Chauhan.

Responding to a question on water quality for hydroponic agriculture Shri Sachin said that the quality of water is central to the success of the Agritech startups like Simply Fresh and we pay a great attention to water quality alongside with water conservation. He also opined that the new age agri processes offer a feasible and affordable solution to mitigating the environmental and climate change challenge for the agriculture sector. Responding to yest another question Dr N Parasuraman said the new and innovative solutions are required for costal areas where water salinity is a major concern and same is the case with food hit areas where abundance of water requires revisiting the agri-technologies.

Dr Sanjana Vij and Dr Indu Sekhar Thakur coordinated the webinar for which excellent IT support was provided by Dr JS Sodhi and the IT team of AUH.

User :- Prashant Dahiya

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