Speaking at AgroSpectrum Technovate 2026, Prof Ramesh Chand, Member (Agriculture) of NITI Aayog, placed technology at the centre of India's long-term agricultural ambitions, arguing that the sector must become an engine of economic growth and export competitiveness, not merely a means of ensuring food security.
Delivering the Vision Talk at the conference, Prof Chand underscored the fundamental relationship between technology and agricultural progress, noting that every long-term agricultural vision rests on the effective use of technology, and that innovations such as AI, mechanisation and biotechnology have the potential to unlock efficiencies across the value chain , though technology alone cannot alter the inherent biological potential of crops.
"The real gains from technology come when we are able to produce more with fewer resources," he said, adding that farm mechanisation reduces drudgery, particularly for farm women, and that technological innovation deserves recognition for the productivity gains it delivers.
Prof Chand noted that India's agricultural growth rate over the past decade has been historically high and among the best globally.
India's agriculture sector, he argued, stands at a defining moment where technology, innovation and collaborative ecosystems will determine the trajectory of future growth : a message echoed by policymakers, scientists and industry leaders gathered at AgroSpectrum Technovate 2026, a national platform exploring the next phase of India's agritech transformation.
Dr C. D. Mayee, Chairperson of the Conference Committee, stressed that technological advancements must ultimately reach farmers in practical and affordable forms, saying: "Technology is the future of farming, but its true value lies in adoption at the farm level."
An AI-driven pest prediction model has already been deployed across Punjab, Haryana, and central India to help farmers anticipate outbreaks and take preventive action, integrating farm-level weather stations for real-time intelligence. Cotton farmers in Maharashtra using these systems have reportedly avoided major losses over the past three years.
Discussions at the conference collectively underscored that productivity enhancement, technological innovation and market competitiveness will define the next chapter of Indian agriculture, with technologies ranging from AI and biotechnology to precision mechanisation and digital agriculture platforms expected to play a transformative role in achieving the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
