In a significant push to modernize agriculture in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) in Varanasi organized its first-ever FPO-Scientist Meet on Sunday. The event served as a direct platform to sensitize farmers and representatives from various Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) about the institute's proposed Agritech Business Park.
Bridging the Gap Between Labs and Farms
This marked the inaugural occasion where IIT (BHU), positioning itself as an agro-technology hub, engaged directly with FPOs. The core agenda was to present technical solutions to the practical, on-ground problems faced by farmers through the envisioned Agritech Business Park. Prof. Panjab Singh, Chancellor of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University in Jhansi, addressed the gathering. He stressed that farmers in eastern Uttar Pradesh must strengthen their agricultural enterprises and enhance profitability by integrating more technology into their practices.
Prof. Singh highlighted the urgent need to empower rural youth and women through entrepreneurship development, capacity building, and the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based technologies in agriculture. This, he stated, is critical for the sector's future.
The Vision: Transforming FPOs into Business Entities
Prof. Amit Patra, Director of IIT (BHU) Varanasi, elaborated on the park's ambitious goal. He explained that the proposed Agritech Business Park aims to transform Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) into Farmer Business Organisations (FBOs). The park is designed to be a convergence point, bringing together banks, agro-industries, research institutions, FPOs, and farmers on a single platform. This collaborative ecosystem is intended to accelerate innovation and drive business success in the agricultural sector.
Adding a global perspective, Sudhanshu Singh, Director of the International Rice Research Institute, pointed out the immense agricultural potential of Uttar Pradesh, which comes with relatively low risk. He noted that the state is already implementing World Bank-supported projects. Effective delivery of digital agro-advisory services to farmers, he asserted, can significantly boost both production and income. He also emphasised the critical importance of improving post-harvest management and value addition for farmers' prosperity.
Banking Support and Practical Frameworks
The meet also provided practical insights into support systems. Anand Lakhmani, Regional Manager of the Bank of Baroda, shared detailed information on the banking facilities available for farmers and FPOs. On the academic front, Prof. V.K. Chandola presented the comprehensive framework of the Agritech Business Park, while Prof. U.P. Singh focused on identifying farmers' practical challenges and discussing their possible solutions. Avi Dutt discussed the growing model of contract farming and the expanding market opportunities it presents to the farming community.
In a subsequent session, the event turned interactive. Representatives and farmers from several FPOs, including Ishani Agro Producer Company Limited, Cholapur Kalyan Farmer Producer Company Limited, Jaya Seed Producer Company Limited, and Maheshwar Farmers Producer Company, shared the specific agricultural challenges they face in their daily operations. This direct feedback is expected to guide the institute's future research and development initiatives tailored for the region.
The first FPO-Scientist Meet at IIT (BHU) Varanasi has set a precedent for direct academia-farmer collaboration, aiming to fuel a technological revolution in the farmlands of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
