IIT Madras and Agriculture Ministry Collaborate on Project VISTAAR to Empower Indian Agriculture
IIT Madras collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture on Project VISTAAR to boost farmer productivity, efficiency, and market access through innovative technologies.
IIT Madras and Agriculture Ministry Collaborate
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, on Project VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources). This pilot initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the agricultural extension system through digitalisation, further strengthening support for farmers nationwide.
Start-ups are renowned for their innovation and ability to leverage technology to introduce new products and services. In the agricultural sector, they have unique opportunities to address both supply and demand challenges. Their technologies and innovations can enhance efficiency and productivity in farming and allied sectors while also providing farmers with valuable market insights. The Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing at IIT Madras along with its incubated start-up YNOS Venture Engine have developed the most comprehensive information on the Indian start-up landscape.
The recent MoU between the Agriculture Ministry and IIT Madras aims to enhance the VISTAAR platform by integrating information about start-ups in agriculture and allied sectors. This will enable farmers and other stakeholders to better understand start-ups' capabilities and offerings, making them more accessible and impactful.
Highlighting the importance of this collaboration, Prof. Thillai Rajan A., Head, Centre for Research on Start-up, IIT Madras, said, “Agriculture forms the backbone of India’s social and economic rubric. Ensuring a strong agriculture sector therefore becomes a major policy imperative. Start-ups have an important role to play in bringing innovation across the value chain in the agriculture and allied sectors.”
Further, Prof. Thillai Rajan A., also a faculty in the Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras, added, “The Start-up information platform developed by the Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing at IIT Madras along with its incubatee start-up YNOS Venture Engine has information about 12,000 start-ups that are connected to the agriculture and farming sectors. This collaboration would bring this rich information within the easy reach of the farmer and contribute to the effectiveness of extension services of the Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare significantly.”
Q: Is IIT Madras good for MBA?
In terms of placements, the institute has recorded good placement numbers for MBA. The lowest package offered to the MBA students during 2023 placements was INR 11 LPA. The highest package grabbed was INR 30.66 LPA. The majority of offers received were of packages between INR 20 LPA and INR 25 LPA. Tabulated below are the key highlights of IIT Madras placements 2023:
| Particulars | MBA Placement Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|
| the highest package | INR 30.66 LPA |
| Median package | INR 20.80 LPA |
| the lowest package | INR 11 LPA |
PPOs received |
26 |
Offers above INR 30 LPA |
3 |
Offers between INR 25 LPA - INR 30 LPA |
6 |
Offers between INR 20 LPA - INR 25 LPA |
12 |
Offers between INR 15 LPA - INR 20 LPA |
10 |
Offers between INR 10 LPA - INR 15 LPA |
6 |
Q: Is IIT JAM difficult?
Experts share that the IIT JAM exam is difficult to clear. This is not because the difficulty level of the questions asked is very high but because the selection ratio through the IIT JAM exam is low. However, this does not mean that the questions asked in the exam are very easy.
Q: Is IIT Madras good for Certificate?
Is IIT Madras Good for Certification?
Based on the statements shared by students and alumni, here are some key findings:
* High Placement Rate: Over 80% of students in B.Tech and dual degree courses, and 75% of students in M.Tech courses got placed by April 30, 2024. Top recruiters included Apple, Google, Texas Instruments, and others.
* Excellent Infrastructure: Modern labs, a well-stocked library, and a peaceful and modern lifestyle on campus contribute to a conducive learning environment.
* Supportive Faculty: Experienced faculty members are enthusiastic about teaching, and are available to clear doubts and provide valuable assistance.
* Online Course Convenience: With daily live classes, flexible scheduling, and a user-friendly online platform, students can access course materials and interact with peers and faculty from anywhere.
* Challenging Curriculum: The course is designed to prepare students for the industry, with a focus on practical applications and regular assessments.
* Tough Exams: Exams are rigorous, requiring students to maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) and pass all graded assignments and tests.
In conclusion, IIT Madras appears to offer a strong certificate programme with a high placement rate, excellent infrastructure, supportive faculty, and a challenging curriculum. While the online format presents some challenges, the university's efforts to create a virtual community and provide flexible scheduling seem to mitigate these issues.
Further, Samuel Praveen Kumar, Joint Secretary (Extension), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, said, “Innovative technologies of Agri Start-ups contribute towards making Agriculture sustainable and climate resilient and therefore connecting the technology of Agri startups with farmers through Extension is critical from an access and adoption perspective and the collaboration with IITM would surely pave way for achieving this objective through VISTAAR DPI for Agriculture Extension.”
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Sanjana Surbhi has over five years of experience in the online education sector. Drawing from her tenure with ed-tech companies, she infuses her work with a wealth of knowledge from the education realm, lending an i... Read Full Bio
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