As part of the ongoing project “Digital Agriculture in India,” a team from the Foundation for Agrarian Studies (FAS) undertook a series of stakeholder consultations in Hyderabad, Telangana, from 16–18 July 2026.
The FAS team, comprising Dr. Sandipan Baksi (Director), Dr. Tapas S. Modak (Joint Director), Sai Chandan Kotu (Senior Research Assistant), and Savani Mane (Research Assistant), sought to gain a deeper understanding of the digital agriculture ecosystem in Telangana. The consultations focused on agricultural drones, digital extension services, digital public infrastructure, and the roles of public and private institutions in advancing digital agriculture.
During the visit, the team met Professor Aldas Janaiah, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU); Dr. M. Yakadri, Director of Extension, PJTAU; and Dr. Balaji Naik, Director, Centre for Digital Agriculture and Technology (C-DAT), PJTAU. The team also visited the Drone Academy of PJTAU to learn about its activities in drone-based agricultural training and applications.
The team further interacted with Dr. C. Kathiresan, Associate Professor and Head, Centre for Innovations and Appropriate Technology for Skills and Jobs, National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), and Dr. Rasheed Sulaiman V., Director, Centre for Research on Innovation and Science Policy (CRISP). In addition, the team visited two Hyderabad-based agricultural drone companies—Marut Drones and Sri Vigneshwara Drones—to understand their technological innovations, service delivery models, and role in promoting agricultural drones.
The discussions explored a wide range of topics, including agricultural extension systems, drone-based services, digital advisory platforms, AI-enabled technologies, innovation ecosystems, public–private partnerships, and the opportunities and challenges associated with scaling digital agriculture. The insights gathered through these interactions will contribute to the ongoing research under the project.
Here are some glimpses from the visit…
