NIRJULI, Sep 30: The Department of Agricultural Engineering, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) here organised an international conference on emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in agriculture on Wednesday.
The conference, titled “Emerging AI, Robotics, and IoT Technologies in Agriculture to Innovate, Sustain, and Elevate: Driving Sustainable Rural Transformation”, provided a platform for researchers, academicians, scientists and practitioners to share research findings and perspectives on technology-driven and sustainable agricultural development.
Health & Family Welfare and Water Resources Minister Biyuram Wahge attended the inaugural session as the chief guest. President of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE) Dr S N Jha was the special guest, while NERIST Director Prof Narendranath S was the guest of honour.
The programme began with a welcome address by Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering Prof Aditi Bhadra, followed by felicitation of the guests, ceremonial lamp lighting and release of the conference proceedings.
Academic Dean Prof S Gao appreciated the Department of Agricultural Engineering for its contributions to the institute and for organising the conference.
Dr S N Jha called for greater collaboration among engineers, experts and policymakers to strengthen the agricultural system and enhance food security. He also emphasised exploring alternative approaches to food production and working towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
NERIST Director Prof Narendranath S highlighted India's contribution to the global agricultural sector and stressed the adoption of advanced technologies while also underlining the importance of protecting farmers' rights. Quoting agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan, he said, “If agriculture goes wrong, nothing else will have the chance to go right.”
Wahge stressed the need to promote smart technologies to address challenges in agriculture and improve efficiency. Drawing from challenges faced by healthcare institutions, he highlighted the role of technology in finding solutions to real-world problems and encouraged participants to focus on acquiring knowledge and developing practical solutions.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by EARITA 2026 Coordinator Dr Anubhab Pal, followed by the National Song and National Anthem.