The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) in Thiruvananthapuram has lately launched an innovative IoT-based precision agriculture technology called ‘e-crop’. It is learned to be a significant step forward in the field of smart farming.

The technology was transferred to Tech Visit IT Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, through a Technology Licensing Agreement (TLA) and it is facilitated by Agrinnovate India Limited, New Delhi. Dr. G. Byju, Director of ICAR-CTCRI, and Shri Bharat Patni, Director of Tech Visit IT Pvt. Ltd., formalized the agreement.

Dr. Praveen Malik, CEO of Agrinnovate India, highlighted the market potential of e-crop in the smart farming sector. He suggested that it could help farmers in achieving higher profits. Dr. Byju emphasized that licensing the climate-focused and high-value technology on World Environment Day marks a major milestone for ICAR-CTCRI.

Dr. V.S. Santhosh Mithra, the principal scientist and inventor of e-crop, said the technology is user-friendly for farmers. E-crop helps in managing the natural resources by measuring soil moisture, temperature and nutrient content as well. The system provides timely advice on irrigation, fertilizer application and pest as well as disease management. It is claimed to make farming more efficient.

The e-crop technology is now being seen as a sustainable alternative. It enhances input efficiency and minimizes wastage. It also holds a significant position in India’s $886.21 million smart farming market.

About 120 scientists and staff of ICAR-CTCRI participated in the launch event. It in fact shows strong support for the new technology. It is expected that the system is to bring a significant improvement in farming practices and simultaneously make them more sustainable as well as profitable.

The launch of e-crop by ICAR-CTCRI is a testament to the potential of technological advancements in agriculture.