Submissions open for Pune Agri Hackathon (India)

Deadline: 15 May 2025

Submit your idea and be a part of the Agri-Tech revolution! Apply now!

India’s first International Hackathon will be the largest gathering to create dialogues, and accelerate innovations in agriculture. India’s first International Hackathon is organized by Department of agriculture, Maharashtra State, Collector Office Pune, MPKV College of Agriculture Pune.

Objectives

Considering India’s growing population, climate change, and the current uncertainties, the future of agriculture holds the potential and power to reshape their lives.
This is a International -level hackathon where innovators, students, startups, and others would be competing against each other at different stages.
Each winner will receive a cash prize along with preference in incubation & funding by their Agribusiness incubators.
The most important stakeholders from industries & government alongside India’s young bright minds, creative startups, and smart innovators will build new, fast, and frugal solutions to tackle the big questions they’re facing today at this national-level hackathon.
They are bringing together fresh perspectives, disruptive approaches, and cutting-edge research & knowledge. They believe in collaborative impact. Hackathon to be held in Pune invites collaboration & participation from across the country and intersectional industries.

Challenges

Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture sector
- Agriculture is the backbone of many economies, yet it faces numerous challenges— Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize agriculture by offering smart, data-driven solutions.
- Participants are invited to develop AI-based tools and systems that can address real-world agricultural problems.The goal is to empower farmers with technology that is accessible, scalable, and impactful.
Water and soil conservation/ management
- Smart Irrigation System
  - Design a smart irrigation system that optimizes water usage based on soil moisture, weather patterns, and crop needs to reduce water waste and improve crop yield.
- Water Usage Optimization for Farms
  - Design a system that analyses water usage across different farm zones and optimizes the distribution based on crop requirements, local weather, and soil moisture.
- Water Harvesting and Distribution System
  - Create a low-cost, efficient water harvesting and distribution system that collects rainwater and distributes it evenly across agricultural fields for irrigation.
- Wastewater Recycling System for Farms
  - Develop a sustainable wastewater recycling system that filters and purifies water for reuse in irrigation or livestock watering, reducing freshwater consumption.
- Soil Health Monitoring System
  - Build a soil health monitoring system that tracks soil pH, nutrient levels, and moisture, offering recommendations to improve soil quality and optimize crop production.
- Mobile Soil Testing Kit
  - Develop a mobile app that works with a portable soil testing kit to help farmers assess soil health, pH levels, and nutrient content, providing actionable insights.
Farm Mechanization
- Autonomous Harvesting Robot
  - Develop an autonomous robot for harvesting crops such as fruits or vegetables, minimizing labor costs and improving harvesting efficiency on large farms.
- Agricultural Robotics for Land Preparation
  - Develop an autonomous robotic system for land preparation (tilling, plowing) that reduces labor costs and improves soil structure for planting.
- Farm Equipment Sharing Platform
  - Build a platform where smallholder farmers can rent or share expensive agricultural equipment (tractors, harvesters) to reduce costs and increase access to modern tools.
Fertigation and Disease/pest management
- Sustainable Fertilizer Application
  - Create a system that uses sensors and AI to determine the precise amount of fertilizer needed for each crop, minimizing excess use and reducing environmental impact.
- Crop Disease Prediction System
  - Develop a machine learning-based system that predicts potential crop diseases based on environmental data, historical patterns, and early signs to reduce crop loss.
- Smart Fertilizer Distribution System
  - Create an automated system that distributes fertilizers only where needed, using GPS and sensor technology to apply fertilizers efficiently and reduce environmental damage.
- Smart Fertilizer Application Robot
  - Create a robotic system that autonomously applies fertilizers in precise amounts, targeting areas that need them most to minimize waste and environmental impact.
Energy
- Energy-Efficient Greenhouses
  - Design a greenhouse that uses solar power and advanced insulation techniques to reduce energy consumption while maintaining optimal growing conditions for crops.
- IoT-Based Greenhouse Automation System
  - Design an IoT-based system that automates temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels inside a greenhouse to optimize plant growth while conserving energy.
- Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems
  - Develop solar-powered systems or devices that solve specific agricultural challenges, promote renewable energy adoption in farming practices, increase access to off-grid solutions for farmers in remote areas.
Food Waste Reduction in Agriculture
- Design a system that reduces post-harvest food waste by improving
  - Storage
  - Transportation
  - Processing
  - Packaging
Agri. Economics, Market linkages
- Blockchain for Food Traceability
  - Create a blockchain-based solution that ensures transparent and secure tracking of food from farm to table, guaranteeing product quality and ethical sourcing.
- Farm Financial Management Platform
  - Build a platform that helps farmers manage finances, including budgeting, crop sales tracking, and expense management, to optimize profitability and investment decisions.
- Agricultural Marketplace for Small Farmers
  - Develop an online marketplace that connects small farmers with consumers, wholesalers, and retailers to sell their produce directly, reducing the role of middlemen.
- Localized Crop Pricing and Market Insights
  - Create a platform that provides farmers with real-time market prices for crops based on location, demand, and supply trends, helping them make better selling decisions.
Any other disruptive Agri-Tech innovation other than AI.
- Explore innovative Agri-Tech solutions that go beyond AI to transform agriculture. This could include IoT, robotics, blockchain, drones, biotechnology, or sustainable farming practices. Impactful technologies that boost efficiency, reduce costs, and support farmers on the ground.