Events

SPJIMR Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Development (CISD) in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Maharashtra Taskforce on Agriculture, hosted a Roundtable Discussion on Agri Digital Technology: The Segway to Agricultural Prosperity’. The objective of the event hosted at the SPJIMR Campus, Mumbai was to discuss:

• Agritech: The progress and the road ahead
• Pilot for industry in the agritech segment
• Farmers expectations, a vital central point.
• Understanding their challenges and working on possible solutions
• Developing talent in agriculture at Execution level
• Encouraging dignified livelihoods in agriculture
• Prepare possible policy document

The event brought together farmer-producer organisations (FPOs), agri-start-ups, enterprises, NGO’s and industry experts including Mr Vilas Shinde, Convener of Taskforce on Agriculture – CII, Dr S. D. Gorantiwar, Director of Research at Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Mr Girish Chitale, Co-Convener of CII Maharashtra State Taskforce on Agriculture & Director at B G Chitale Dairies Pvt Ltd, Prof. Varun Nagaraj, Dean, SPJIMR and Mr. V Shankar, Executive in Residence, SPJIMR CISD. Conversations revolved around the integration of digital technology and agriculture, emphasising the importance of talent, capital, technology, and policy alignment. The event highlighted India’s growing agritech startup landscape and the role of the agriculture sector in adopting many more emerging digital solutions.

The event consisted of two enlightening sessions:

Session I: Role and Progress of Agri Digital Technologies, Future of Digitech

• Moderated by Mr. V Shankar, Executive-in-Residence at SPJIMR’s Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Development, this session featured insights from key speakers:
  • Mr. Rohan Ursal, Chairman & Managing Director, Purandar Highlands Farmers Producer Company Ltd.
  • Mr. Sandip Shinde, Centre Head – Digital Social Innovation, TCS Foundation
  • Mr. Akshay Dixit, Director, Vestogo Innovations

Session II: Challenges & Opportunities in Agri Sector & Policy Reforms

• Moderated by Mr Girish Chitale, Co-Convener of CII Maharashtra State Taskforce on Agriculture & Director at B G Chitale Dairies Pvt Ltd, this session involved discussions by:
  • Mr. Akshay Dixit, Director, Vestogo Innovations
  • Ms. Bhawna Nirmal, Head-Business Development, Agri-Entrepreneur Growth Foundation
  • Dr. Sangita Ladha, Business Director, Rivulis Irrigation India Pvt. Ltd