C-DAC and BAU Forge Alliance for Technological Revolution in Bihar's Agriculture Sector
On April 22, 2022, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and Bihar Agriculture University (BAU) formalized a strategic collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Association (MoA). This MoA heralds a new era of partnership aimed at revolutionizing the agriculture sector in Bihar through innovative technological interventions.
The MoA was signed in the august presence of Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Hon’ble Governor of Bihar, by Shri. Aditya Kumar Sinha, Scientist ‘G’ & Director, C-DAC, Patna & Kolkata and Dr. D R Singh, Vice Chancellor, BAU at Raj Bhawan, Patna. The signing of the MoU was also witnessed by the team of C-DAC Patna and BAU.
Under this collaboration, C-DAC Patna will bring its expertise in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics, BAU, on the other hand, will provide C-DAC Patna with its state-of-the-art research facilities and the expertise of agriculture professionals. This synergy is expected to result in significant advancements in the field of agriculture, benefiting both organizations as well as the wider community.
The Hon’ble Governor took a keen interest in understanding how to overcome Bihar-specific agriculture issues like crop protection, seed and inventory management with technological interventions.
Shri Aditya Kumar Sinha highlighted the significance of merging technological advancements with agricultural expertise, stating, "This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in leveraging advanced technologies like AI, drone technology, digital twin, etc. to revolutionize agricultural practices, ensuring sustainable growth and increased yields for farmers. Shri Aditya Kumar Sinha also expressed his gratitude to the Hon’ble Governor for his invaluable support and encouragement towards fostering such impactful collaborations in the agricultural sector.
Dr. D R Singh, also shared his thoughts, highlighting BAU's dedication to offering top-notch research facilities and working closely with C-DAC to explore new frontiers in agricultural research and development. Dr. D R Singh emphasized that the university has already prioritized the integration of Artificial Intelligence into agriculture. The university plans to adopt villages across different agroclimatic zones of Bihar for the application of AI in agriculture, scaling it up gradually through the State Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Bihar. He highlighted the university's state-of-the-art Media Centre and its role as the Fourth Krishi Roadmap of Bihar, with a special focus on services such as weather advisories up to the village level, Decision Support Systems, Kisan Gyan Vahan, technical films, Community Radio Stations, and teleconferencing with farmers, among others.
Addressing the gathering, the Hon’ble Governer shared the vision of the tech-driven agriculture sector aligned with the fourth agriculture roadmap of Bihar and affirmed that the future of agriculture would be bright when organizations like C-DAC and BAU are there to deal with existing and emerging challenges and problems of sustainability in the sector which can be handled technologically and converted into opportunities.
This collaboration marks a pivotal step towards realizing the fourth agriculture roadmap of Bihar, aligning with the vision of a vibrant and technologically empowered agriculture sector. C-DAC and BAU are poised to lead the charge in transforming challenges into opportunities, ensuring a brighter and more sustainable future for Bihar's agriculture industry.