Call for Proposals: ATMAN 2.0 Program (India)

ATMAN 2.0 is a one-day event aimed at bringing forward the innovative technologies in Agritech domain, that are being developed in the premier institutes across India and provide them with a platform for showcasing their R&D prowess to the Agritech community and support them on their lab to market journey.

Themes

• Proposals are invited from researchers from Academia for the execution of projects on the following problem statements:
  • Theme: Pre-harvest management:
    • Problem statement: Sub-Inadequate soil health assessment and inefficient irrigation practices.
    • Limited access to accurate soil data and effective soil management practices result in nutrient deficiencies and reduced yield. In addition, improper irrigation and fertigation practices cause water wastage, nutrient imbalances and soil erosion. By addressing these two critical components simultaneously, farmers can optimize crop yields and conserve resources.
    • The proposed solution should incorporate soil sensors for real-time data collection on soil moisture, temperature, nutrient levels and other relevant parameters and IoT platforms for data analysis and decision support regarding irrigation scheduling and fertilization. The solution should demonstrate significant improvements in crop yield and resource conservation compared to existing methods.
  • Theme: Agricultural produce storage facilities and distribution network:
    • Problem statement: Sub-optimal storage/warehousing facilities and distribution network.
    • The lack of adequate storage facilities and distribution networks leads to significant post-harvest losses in agricultural products. This is due to factors like insufficient storage capacity, poor infrastructure, and inefficient transportation. These losses result in food insecurity, economic losses, and environmental impacts.
    • The proposed IoT solution should be applicable to a broad range of agricultural products, effectively addressing the challenges of inadequate storage facilities. The demonstration should compare the performance of traditional storage methods with the IoT-enabled system, highlighting key improvements such as reduced spoilage rates, optimized inventory management, and enhanced traceability.
  • Theme: Post-harvest management:
    • Problem statement: Enhancing post-harvest management practices.
    • To address post-harvest challenges, technology can enable climate-smart storage, value-added processing, waste-based resource generation, and efficient cold chains.
    • This enhances product quality, reduces losses, and increases economic benefits in agriculture.
    • The project should demonstrate IoT based solution for the above problem statement in the focus areas mentioned and highlight the improvement in terms of product quality, productivity and enhanced benefits for farmers and the agricultural sector.
  • Theme: Market Intelligence:
    • Problem statement: Lack of reliable information on inputs and market prices.
    • Without accurate data on the cost of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs, farmers may struggle to manage their expenses effectively and make informed decisions about resource allocation. Additionally, limited access to real-time market price information can prevent farmers from selling their produce at the best possible prices, leading to lower revenues and reduced profitability. This lack of information can create a cycle of uncertainty and financial hardship for farmers, hindering their ability to achieve sustainable agricultural practices.
    • The objective is to develop an IoT solution enabling farmer access to accurate and timely information on inputs, market prices, and when, where, and how to sell.

Funding Information

• Project grant up to Rs 2 Crore for 6-18 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• Should be a citizen of India.
• The proposal can be submitted by researchers from Academia i.e. Research Institute, Labs, University with a well-established support system for research. The institute should have been established in India and have NAAC/UGC/AICTE or any equivalent recognition certificate or any other Public/ Government organization.
• The Principal Investigator/ Project Leader shall be responsible for the technical and managerial aspects of the project execution.

Application Requirements

• Applicants can submit applications for more than one proposal for different sub-project categories. Please fill a separate application form for each proposal.
• Project proposal has to be submitted in the prescribed format given in the Project Proposal Format.
• The presentation has to be submitted in the prescribed format given in the ATMAN 2.0 Presentation Template.
• Milestones and Budget have to be submitted in the prescribed format given in the Milestone & Budget.
• The applicant may upload a short 2-minute video with a visualization of the technology or product with a use case. The proposed methodology to address the problem statement should be well-defined.
• The application must be submitted only through the application form.
• The applicant from Academia (PI) must submit an Endorsement Letter of support as per the prescribed format given.

For more information, visit TIH Foundation.