Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is gearing up to establish a digital technology park on its campus, aimed at showcasing the latest advancements in agricultural technology.
The university has already secured a ₹1.5 crore grant from Punjab and Sind Bank, which is funding the project as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.
PAU Vice-Chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal shared that the park will serve as a one-stop hub, bringing together all the cutting-edge technologies developed by the university. It will demonstrate how farmers can incorporate these innovations into their practices to maximize farming efficiency and productivity.
Providing further details, Farm Machinery and Power Engineering professor Vishal Bector, along with the Institution Relations associate director, explained that the park will feature sensor-based technologies designed to monitor soil and crop conditions. “With these sensors, we can assess real-time soil and plant health, enabling precise irrigation, fertilization, and application of agro-chemicals to ensure optimal yields,” Bector said.
The park will also highlight the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into farm machinery, providing real-time weather data to help farmers prepare for environmental changes. “These sensors will allow us to anticipate weather patterns and adjust farming practices accordingly,” Bector added.
Vice-Chancellor Gosal mentioned that PAU is working on an innovative technology to narrow the gap between weather predictions and actual conditions. “We have a treasure trove of weather data from the past 50 years. Predicting weather is complex, but by combining specific markers with this historical data, we can enhance the accuracy of forecasts, giving farmers the precise information they need to safeguard their crops,” he explained.
PAU is also exploring the development of AI-driven technology that analyzes weather data in conjunction with these markers to improve forecast accuracy. The university is currently in discussions with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to further this initiative.
An acre of land near the campus petrol pump has been designated for the park, and the university is currently working on its design.