Hyderabad: Telangana is emerging as a frontrunner in digital agriculture by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics. These innovations aim to boost farm productivity, cut input costs, and build resilience against climate change.
On Tuesday, IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu emphasized the State’s commitment to making farming more profitable and sustainable, particularly for small and marginal farmers. He made these remarks after meeting with officials from Germany’s Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) at the Secretariat.
Telangana targets tech-driven farming transformation
“Our aim is to reduce farmers’ financial burden while improving yields and soil health,” Sridhar Babu said. “We want to replace guesswork with precision and ensure that every farmer, regardless of landholding, can benefit from technology.”
He highlighted Telangana’s unique advantage—its strong agricultural foundation coupled with a thriving tech sector. Agriculture supports over 55% of the population and contributes significantly to the State GDP. Meanwhile, Hyderabad continues to grow as a global tech hub.
The Minister noted that pilot programs are already testing AI-powered soil sensors, real-time weather alerts, and advanced decision-making tools. These innovations help farmers use fewer pesticides, manage resources efficiently, and adapt to changing weather patterns.
German-backed climate-resilient farming pilot expands
Sridhar Babu also reviewed progress on the “Accelerating Climate-Resilient Agriculture” project. For the past two years, this initiative has run in three villages near Vemulawada in partnership with Fraunhofer HHI. He urged the institute to expand the project statewide to reach more farmers.
“We’ve seen measurable improvements in the pilot areas,” he said. “Now is the time to scale these benefits across Telangana.”
High-level collaboration in focus
Key attendees at the meeting included M. Kodanda Reddy, Chairman of the State Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Commission; Anvesh Reddy, Chairman of Telangana State Seeds Corporation; and Volker Kleima, Head of the Agriculture Division at the German Embassy in New Delhi. Fraunhofer HHI was represented by Dr. Sebastian Bosse and Dr. Raghu Chaliganti.
Telangana’s push for digital farming marks a critical step in transforming traditional agriculture into a modern, tech-enabled sector that benefits both the economy and the environment.
