Deployment of 100 advanced weather stations provided at no cost, to enable hyperlocal, data-driven farming decisions

Annam.ai, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture established by the Ministry of Education, Government of India at Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, today announced a set of key initiatives aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI-led, data-driven farming practices in India.

Establishing a scalable Weather Intelligence Network for India, ANNAM.AI has initiated the deployment of 100 advanced weather stations, beginning with Punjab as the first implementation hub. Provided at no cost, these AI-based weather stations will deliver hyperlocal, real-time weather data to farmers, enabling precise decisions on sowing, irrigation, and crop protection. Designed as a model for nationwide expansion, this initiative aims to reduce climate-related risks and improve farm productivity.

Being developed as a digital public good for Indian agriculture, ANNAM.AI is building scalable agricultural AI intelligence technologies designed to make data-driven farming accessible across the country. The initiative, supported by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, is being implemented as a phased rollout, with initial deployments serving as a foundation for expansion across multiple states including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

To ensure optimal utilization of this technology, Annam.AI will also roll out fully funded AI training for 10,000 students, rural youth, and Agri-professionals. The skilling programme is designed to build on-ground capabilities and create a strong pipeline of individuals equipped to apply AI in agriculture at scale.

At the Smart Agri Summit 2026, Dr. Pushpendra Singh, Project Director of ANNAM.AI, Dean IIT Ropar said “At ANNAM.AI, our focus is on bringing together research, technology, and on-ground implementation to solve real challenges faced by farmers. By combining real-time data with scientific insights, we aim to make farming more productive, sustainable, and climate resilient. Through these initiatives, we are enabling a more technology-driven and resilient agricultural ecosystem in India.”

The Smart Agri Summit 2026 brought together stakeholders from government, academia, and the Agri-tech sector to discuss the future of agriculture. The event included panel discussions on farmer-focused solutions and data-driven farming, with participation from policymakers, researchers, industry experts, and innovators. It also created a platform for collaboration and exchange of ideas, highlighting the importance of partnerships in advancing agriculture.