Dept. of Agriculture together with WEF Hosted Stakeholder Consultation on PPP in Digital Agriculture

Today, the Government of India's Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), India, hosted a one-day stakeholder consultation on Public-Private Partnership in Digital Agriculture in New Delhi.

Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, presided over the meeting. Ahuja referred to the Union Budget Speech for 2022-23, which outlines a policy vision for "delivery of digital and hi-tech services to farmers with the participation of public sector research and extension institutions, private aAgritech players, and stakeholders of the Agri value chain."

Following that, Rajeev Chawla, Chief Knowledge Officer (A&FW), provided insights into the conceptual framework for Public-Private Partnership in Digital Agriculture. He also discussed the importance of data sharing, technology validation, and the need for a sandbox.

Following that, Rajeev Chawla, Chief Knowledge Officer (A&FW), provided insights into the conceptual framework for Public-Private Partnership in Digital Agriculture. He also discussed the importance of data sharing, technology validation, and the need for a sandbox.

Ajit Kesari, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture, Madhya Pradesh, also shared his thoughts on digital agriculture and its potential, emphasizing the need for a framework for incorporating technology into agriculture.

In order to move the session forward, Purushottam Kaushik, Head, C4IR, WEF-India, outlined the strategy for stakeholder consultation. Six consultation groups were formed to discuss PPP governance, data, the Sandbox, market access, finance access, and access to inputs and advisories.

More than 140 participants from various stakeholders attended the consultation, including state governments, state agriculture universities, ICAR, Agritech start-ups, Agri industry, banks, think tanks, civil society, and farmer organizations.

J. Satyanarayana, Chief Advisor, WEF-India, and Rajeev Chawla discussed how the consultation's inputs will be further considered in order to develop this initiative. Rakesh Kumari Tiwari, ITS, Director (Digital Agriculture, DA&FW), concluded the consultation with a vote of thanks.