I have started Green Morning Horticulture Services Pvt Ltd in 2010. The initial problem which I encountered was to make people aware of the idea behind my Agriventure. I had faced difficulty in convincing them.

What about the funding of your Agriventure? What is the annual turnover?

Initially, we had difficulty with the working capital. The UCO bank supported us with the working capital loan. Now the annual turnover is around five and a half crore.

What is the scope of entrepreneurship in the field of Agriculture?

Agriculture has a lot of entrepreneurship possibilities. I personally felt that after my MSc in Agriculture, my MBA background in Agribusiness helped me a lot because I got to know the business tactics and have built various contacts in my field while pursuing the course.

What are the services your Agriventure offers?

Initially, we offered services like Landscape Designing & Development, Vertical & Terrace Gardens, Tree transplantation, Plant Rentals, Agri & Horticulture Consultancy and Vermi-compost sale. But now we are only into tree transplantation as it has become a huge business for us. It is better to relocate trees rather than felling them. The process of tree transplantation is slow which takes time & what makes it expensive is basically the need to hire earth movers, cranes, and trailers. The mission of my firm is to save every tree possible from our side. We want to make sure that no cutting of trees is done for any cause.

Green Morning Firm is also providing consultancy services to farming communities through Haritha Nursery. We help them in getting the new technology to their hands.

Who are your clients? How did you manage to win their trust?

We work for Hyderabad Metro rail and Pune Metro. We are also working on bullet train projects, for Forest Department Orissa, NHAI Jharkhand, etc. The mantra of the successful venture is Client-trust. Initially winning their trust was most difficult as even I was new in this field and with my trial & error methods, I experimented many times. We did all possibilities and finally, after 1-2 years, we showed the live results to Government officials that how a tree can be transplanted and finally they got convinced.  

What is your advice to students who are interested to become Agripreneurs?

Innovation is a simple process to bridge the gap where the need is required. Always check where the gap is needed to be filled and try to be innovative in that aspect.

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The source of water is always depend on rain directly as well as indirectly. Therefore, on the part of the policy makers, farmers and other stakeholders to make all the efforts to harvest rainwater and utilize technology to recharge ground water. Also, farmers should be properly educated to rationalize crop use pattern with regard to availability of water resources. Certain crops such as sugar cane & rice that are water-guzzling crops need to be grown in lesser area & replaced with other less water consuming crops. Also, newer varieties with lesser water requirements are developed through research. It appears at present that there is no way that Indian agriculture can be made independent of external resources. Harvesting Technology in Agriculture Harvesting Technology in Agriculture

Q. The Prime Minister pledged to double the farmers’ income by 2022. Your comments.

The production of crops dependents’ again on several factors, which may not be under the control of the farmers. Climate change is a big threat to food production system. Therefore, it is important on part of the farmers that they diversify their agriculture including animal husbandry, poultry, fishery, horticulture, bee keeping etc. so that other crops can compensate losses in one crop. Ecosystem created in rural areas to minimize production losses and farmers are facilitated to have access to national and international markets for selling their product. Appropriate infrastructure should be created for storage, value addition and price of their product. As there are several unknown factors that determine the outcome in agriculture it will difficult to double the income.

Q. What’s your take on promotion of aquaculture farming?

Yes, aquaculture farming should be promoted big way where the water is not a limiting factor. The aquaculture has brought tremendous change in states such as Andhra Pradesh. Several other states are also promoting fresh water aquaculture. Yes, the nutritional deficiencies problem can be addressed by aquaculture to some extent.

Q. How should India mitigate stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab?

To mitigate the pollution issue, farmers need to be compensated economically and their stubbles need to lifted/removed quickly at the time of harvesting by government/private entity which can utilize this straw after processing and develop products which can be utilized. One such product could be animal feed after some enrichment. The bottom line is with financial benefits to the farmers this issue can be effectively tackled. The farmers need quick removal of straw from her/his field so that next crop can be planted.

Q. What initiatives encourage youngsters to embrace agro-industry?

Agro-industry has not yet developed in robust manner as in advanced countries. If there are opportunities in agri-business, youth will be automatically attracted to it. It is well documented that post-harvest processing/value addition in agriculture sector as whole is less than 20 percent which is far behind from some of the advanced countries where post-harvest processing is more than 60 percent. Therefore, there is huge scope for enhancing processing through investment in this sector in big way thereby creating jobs for agriculture graduates and postgraduates.

Q. What is the market entry strategy for a start-up?

Startups need to be innovative in their services and products as there is competition with some big multi-nationals and established national companies in agri-sector. What is important for the startups is to identify areas where there is no competition and the products and services are cheaper as compared to others in the sector.

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We supply hybrid seeds to farming community across the country. India is a vast country with different soil types, rainfall patterns, irrigation potentials, weather etc. We customise our products (hybrid seeds) that suit to different soils, weather etc. We have more than 25 maize hybrids catering to the needs of farmers from different states / locations. Like the hybrid which suits well in Karnataka doesn’t perform in Bihar. So we have different hybrids for Bihar which suit the conditions there. We also undertake educating farmers on successful crop production by conducting farmers melas, field visits, demonstrations etc. From Subsistence to Profit-making From Subsistence to Profit-making

Q. What you feel about the contribution of today’s youth when it comes to agriculture? How can they play a bigger role?

Today’s youth are not in favour of engaging in agriculture as it’s a thankless job and most farmers are also not happy because of many issues. Some of the issues are lack of remunerative prices, unpredictable monsoon and weather because of global warming, outbreak of new pests and diseases year after year, lack of support from governments in arranging crop insurance, non availability sufficient labour for farm operations due to Mahatma Gandhi National rural employment guarantee Act 2005 (MNREGA), high cost of fertilizers & pesticides, lack of proper storage facilities etc. More over nowadays youth are more interested in doing even a small job than engaging in farming.

Youth can think about new agriculture systems like terrace farming, greenhouse agriculture, ancillary activities like dairy, fisheries, poultry etc which are more profitable than traditional farming.

Q. What piece of message you would like to give anyone aiming for agri based entrepreneurship?

Work with farmers, understand their needs and customise your products to address their needs.

Q. How far is the MSP beneficial for a farmer?

Though minimum support price announced by successive governments is good these are never followed at the market place as the prices farmers get are determined by demand supply situation Middlemen get more profits than farmers in India now.
Agriculture markets must be opened to explore export possibilities where in farmers can get better prices depending on world markets. Farmers must be encouraged to cultivate those crops which get better profits to them based on world market prices.

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Towards harnessing India’s demographic dividend, the report explicitly details skill development, entrepreneurship, and enhanced employability of the graduates

The Fifth Deans’ Committee Report of ICAR emphasizes on, underpinning the congruence of excellence and relevance, has judiciously updated the curricula, course contents, and degree nomenclature, and recommended reforms in admission and examination, pedagogy, faculty requirement, governance etc. Towards harnessing India’s demographic dividend, the
report explicitly details skill development, entrepreneurship, and enhanced employability of the graduates.

Government Jobs

Research Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, Agriculture Officer, Agriculture Loan Officer, Production Manager, Operations Manager, KRISHI VIKASH KENDRA, Agricultural Development Officer, Agricultural Extension Officers, Assistant Officer, Field Officers, Government contractual projects

The thrust on creating trained quality human resources in the Agriculture Sector through the countrywide establishment of State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) in the 1960s onwards, along with the deemed universities, had ushered in the Green Revolution, followed by White, Yellow, and Blue Revolutions. The National Agricultural Research, Education and Extension (NAREE) system, one of the largest in the world, had congruently generated the needed scientists, teachers, researchers, technologists, technologies and technology transfer systems to transform India from Ship-to-Mouth situation to the Right-to-Food status.

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There are 67 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), three Central Agricultural University (CAU), four Deemed Universities (DUs) and Central Universities and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with agriculture faculty in India. These institutions provide admission at UG level in 11 disciplines. After the completion of the 10+2 standard examination, one can either pursue BSc, BBA in Agriculture or after the completion of graduation in Science stream. In India, various National & State Level Agriculture Entrance Exams are organized every year for the admissions into Agriculture / Horticulture undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

State Agricultural Universities

Fields of Agriculture

All-India and State Level Examinations to Clear

New Initiatives in Courses

Student READY (Rural and Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana)

In compliance with the Student READY programme in the year 2015, the following components are proposed for conducting the one year program in all the undergraduate discipline:

New Degree Programmes

Considering the latest scientific developments impacting food and agriculture systems, along with new societal needs and demands, the Fifth Deans’ Committee has proposed introduction of the following new courses.

All-inclusive Distribution of Courses

With an aim of inculcating the basic, principles, as well as, skills in a systematic way year wise plan has been sketched out:

List of Agriculture Institutes

Andhra Pradesh

• charya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur
• Dr YSR Horticultural University, Venkataramannagudem, Tadepalligudem
• Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati

Assam

• Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Bihar

• Bihar Agricultural University, Bhagalpur
• Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University, Samastipur

Chhattisgarh

• Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg
• Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur

Delhi

• Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Gujarat

• Anand Agricultural University, Anand
• Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh
• Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar
• Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari
• Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Banaskantha

Haryana

• Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar
• Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar
• National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal

Himachal Pradesh

• Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur
• Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan

Jammu and Kashmir

• Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir

Jharkhand

• Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke

Karnataka

• Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar
• University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga
• University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
• University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad
• University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot

Kerala

• Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur
• Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi
• Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad

Madhya Pradesh

• Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur
• Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur
• Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior

Maharashtra

• Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai
• Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli
• Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola
• Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur
• Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri
• Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani

Manipur

• Central Agricultural University, Imphal

Odisha

• Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar

Punjab

• Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana
• Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

Rajasthan

• Agriculture University, Jodhpur
• Agriculture University, Kota
• Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur
• Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner
• Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner
• Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner

Tamil Nadu

• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
• Tamil Nadu Fisheries University, Nagapattinam
• Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram, Chennai

Telangana

• Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad
• Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, Hyderabad

Uttar Pradesh

• Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda
• Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur
• Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly
• Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad
• Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi
• Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut
• UP Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go-Ansundhan Sansthan, Mathura

Uttarakhand

• GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
• Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture & Forestry, Pauri Garhwal

West Bengal

• Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur
• Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Cooch Behar
• West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata

Evaluation Process

However, the papers will be set by external sources, and the respective HOD shall ensure the coverage of syllabus according to the report. On the other hand, evaluation and assessment to be done internally by the faculty other than the Course Instructor.

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Digital technologies such as Remote Sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), Internet of Things (IoT), coupled with data-driven decision making and analytics, hold the key to improved farm productivity, minimized farm wastage and increased farmers income.

A report by Accenture estimates the digital agriculture services market will hit $4.55 Billion by 2020 globally, thus, pointing out to the fact that agri-tech startups in the world, as well as India, are bound to grow.

Agri – Industry Size

The agricultural products value marketed during 2004-05 was ` 5053 billion, which included ` 3323 billion of crop products, ` 1387 billion of livestock products and ` 343 billion of fisheries products. Similarly, agro-processed products were
` 4169 billion. The compound annual growth rate of expenditure has been 4.2% over the years.

A report by Accenture estimates the digital agriculture services market will hit $4.55 Billion by 2020

Agriculture, forestry, logging and fishing accounted for 16.6% of the GDP in 2007.

Gross Value Added (GVA) in Years:

Additionally, India is the biggest generator, customer and exporter of spices items. Export of spice from India has touched to US$ 3.1 billion of every 2017-18. Tea exports have crossed a record high of 240.68 million kgs in CY 2017 while coffee traded 395,000 tons in 2017-18.

Market Infrastructure

Agri-business is a constantly growing market and expanding from the Stone Age to the era of big data.

Many reports suggest that the market valuation can be increased through higher investment in supply and marketing chain. Experts from all sectors of the agriculture industry suggest that millions and tonnes of food products can be added to the food chain if we invest highly in post-harvest losses due to insects, rodents and weather damage.

Due to lack of proper handling (cleaning, sorting, grading and packaging) at the farm gate or village level, about 7 per cent of grains, 30 per cent of fruits and vegetables, and 10 per cent of seed spices are lost before reaching the market. An estimated ` 50,000 crore is lost annually in the marketing chain due to poorly developed marketing infrastructure and inefficient system of marketing activities.

FM announced increases in customs duties on certain items to incentivize domestic value addition and the “Make in India” campaign for key sectors. Consequently, the import duty on vegetable oils, various juices and other processed food products were raised. The exception to import tariff increases was for raw cashews, which received an import tariff reduction to support the cashew processing industry.

A country which was self-sufficient in food had to import nearly 7.5 million tonnes of wheat during 2006 and 2007. Changes can be brought down by putting more stress in the value chain, finance, policy, training, and market linkage methodologies to improve availability and affordability of inputs, agriculture production, post-harvest handling, output markets and price discovery information, and exports, with improvements to farmer and other stakeholder capabilities to generate higher volumes and efficiencies that increase household incomes.

Investments

India is becoming an example of ease of doing business for many countries. Government of India has introduced its first ever Agricultural Export Policy to boost the exports of agricultural products to USD 60 billion by 2022 as per press release by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

Some major investments and developments in agriculture are as follows:

• China will begin importing 50,000 tonnes of raw sugar from India in 2019
• Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC) has registered a growth of 26% over the last year with a net profit of ` 41.62 crore as compared to Rs. 29.76 crore in last year.
• Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) is an indicator of business activity in both the manufacturing and services sectors. PMI in October 2018 stood at 53.1 as against 50.3 in October 2017.
• Investments of ` 8,500 crore (US$ 1.19 billion) have been announced in India for ethanol production.
• The first mega food park in Rajasthan was inaugurated in March 2018.
• Agrifood start-ups in India received funding of US$ 1.66 billion between 2013-17 in 558 deals.
• In 2017, the agriculture sector in India witnessed 18 M&A deals worth US$ 251 million.
• A total of 325 products from India has GI indication. The first product to get a GI tag in India was the Darjeeling tea in 2004 and the recent ones are Bangla Rasgulla, Alphonso, and Mahabaleshwar Strawberry.
• In FY18, Ministry of Food Processing Industries granted fund of ` 268.8 crore for the Mega Food Parks scheme.
• A programme named as ‘SAMPADA’ for the food processing sector, with investments worth US$ 892.46 million with an aim to reduce waste and double farmer’s income

Source: Economic Survey 2017-18

Pestle Analysis of Agriculture Industry

Political Analysis

Political policies affect directly to the agriculture industry where 70 % of the population demand on it.

• Our country lacks national level policy and full responsibilities are with the state government. Industrial growth is always given a top priority than agri sectors
• Although production has increased adding more to GDP still India is one of the poorest countries. To meet the growing demand, we need a structural change in pricing policies, technology, irrigation and research.
• Direct support, encouragement and incentives to farmers should be provided.
• More female specific technology and training should be encouraged
• Cost of production is important to factor to work upon to elevate the pressure on farmers

Societal Analysis

• High interest in the loan and massive debt
• Law to restrict agriculture land from real state purposes
• Society not accepting agriculture education as a medium of mainstream course
• The entrepreneurial spirit in agri-based industry is not found in all areas of our country. Some societies encourage entrepreneurship while some don’t.
• The two-thirds of its populace offers work to 57% of the workforce and is a raw material source to a huge number of enterprises. Regardless of the depiction of cultivating as a sound and glad lifestyle, agriculture division encounters one of the most elevated numbers of suicides than some other industry

Technical Analysis

• Kisan Call Centre came up for farming advice
• Agriculture machinery training and research centre are establishing across India
• Many State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Agricultural Engineering Colleges/ Polytechnics are organizing various campaign, workshop and seminar. For which ` 73 lakh during the year 2004-05 and ` 38.03 lakh during the year 2005-06 was released to different State Governments and ICAR
• Encouragement of more public-private partnership for the overall development
• E-Chaupal is an initiative by ITC which provides farm mechanization, weather info and credit facility targeting 10 million farmers by 2022.
• National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) and Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX) exchanges are introduced to trade in agriculture commodity

Environmental Analysis

• Being the direct dependent of monsoon, insufficient rain will lead to a lack of production
• Climate change making a way to immediate flood and drought
• Shortage of sugar in India is a prime example of how the biggest producer is turning into the highest importer
• Hybrid plants are required to resist such climate or any worldwide disease
• Illiterate and superstitious outlook should be dumped to except more scientific methods for cultivation

Source: Planning Commission, Economic Survey 2015-16, Central Statistics Office, Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability, ICAR, NITI AYOG, Media Survey

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Indian agriculture is a mosaic. There are good examples of scientific and remunerative agriculture. Knowledge concerning such agriculture should be spread through a series of national demonstrations, as we did in the 1960s

Q. You are a believer in income orientation of the farmer than production growth. Please tell us more about this.

Everyone needs a stable and adequate income. Farming is a risky profession, depending upon sun and rain. Therefore an income orientation is exceedingly important. This can be done by adopting measures by which there could be a value addition to every part of the biomass.

Q. The central, as well as federal governments, are now talking about loan waiver to farmers in a big way. Can just waiving loans be enough? Tell us about the economics of farming.

Loan waiver is a short term measure to help farmers to get back to farming. On the other hand, it is an acceptance of the non-viability of agriculture. We should make agriculture economically viable through increased productivity, improved and value-added handling of the biomass.

Q. In all sectors one is witnessing a startup boom. How is it in the agricultural sector?

There is no boom in agriculture since demand and supply have to be closely matched in order to ensure that we have market-driven agriculture.

Q. Farmers’ children are not taking up agriculture. This could have an adverse effect in the future. Your comments

Farmers’ children see the difficulties their parents are undergoing. They also read about farmers’ suicides which have a very adverse effect on their mind in taking to agriculture as their profession.

Q. Do you feel the curriculum in agricultural universities needs a revamp? If so, how?

The curriculum in Agricultural Universities needs continuous improvement. Science is progressing fast and the curriculum should be such that the latest information is given to farmers.

Q. Marketing and pricing of farm produce are two issues that need attention. You have been talking a great deal on this. What are the recommendations that you have given to the Government of India?

We have given several suggestions for assured marketing and remunerative pricing. Minimum support price and procurement are important to encourage farmers.

Q. How can one retain youth in farming?

Youth can be retained in farming provided farming becomes both economically attractive and intellectually stimulating.

Q. Are we able to meet the food production demand to the increasing population in India?

We can meet the increased demand arising from increased population since the untapped production reservoir in agriculture is still very high.

Q. Indian economy is still agrarian to a large extent and we lag behind in production and innovation as compared to the USA and Europe? Your comments

Indian agriculture is a mosaic. There are good examples of scientific and remunerative agriculture. Knowledge concerning such agriculture should be spread through a series of national demonstrations, as we did in the 1960s.

Q. What are the different R&D areas that your organization MSSRF is working on?

We are working on anticipatory research (example preparation for sea level rise), participatory research with rural and tribal families and translational research designed to convert scientific know-how into field level do-how.

Q. What’s your take on agriculture-start-ups and how it should be worked upon in a country like India?

The only way agriculture can attract the interest of youth is an economical reward and security of income. This is why it is necessary to provide an income orientation to farming.

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One of the best ways to improve farming is to partner directly with the farmers themselves. Through this, a proper understanding of regional differences and the spectrum of needs that the individual farming community of a state may have can be understood. The farmer must be supported with free farm equipment, seeds and fertilizer should be the aim.

There are some major challenges in the diverse Indian market such as:

• The production of the crop grown by the farmer should be processed locally which has to then be exported worldwide. The multiple middlemen elimination will improve the earnings of the farmer.
• The agriculture behemoth will face the basic issue which is to gain the trust of the farmer. The roadmap to a financially secure agricultural business will be ready for implementation once the farmer trusts the process.
• Logistics and warehousing will also pose a big challenge which is the infrastructural requirements.

In order to change the Indian agricultural realm the government with the companies that have so far demonstrated the history of creating millions of success stories in the domain of farming should work together. This initiative will strengthen the rich cultural and agricultural heritage of the country.

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University Grant Commission (UGC) has ban higher education institutes and universities to carry out a professional degree in the form of distance mode or open education. In the latest circular, the commission has extended the number of courses under the scope of ‘professional’ courses was extended.

Including agriculture and related courses were also considered in the professional courses. Many institutes will have to shut down based on the new rules.

“To protect the interest of the students already enrolled in the agriculture degree programme, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has been requested for hand-holding of such higher education institutions. However, no new enrolments will be permitted from the 2019 academic session,” a UGC official told PTI.

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It is the third university in the world to offer a B.tech course after US-based Carnegie Mellon University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

It will be probably for the academic year 2019-20 and intake 20 students under JEE. It will provide a sound knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning. It already offered M.tech programme in artificial intelligence.

“The major aim is to create a complete ecosystem for Artificial Intelligence Academics and Research environment at IIT Hyderabad. This involves B.Tech, M.Tech and different minor programmes in AI. Moreover, R&D will be strongly entwined with academics.” said UB Desai, Director, IIT Hyderabad.

The course will cover various verticals such as healthcare, smart mobility, agriculture, among others. The ethical impact of AI and its technologies on areas such as privacy, bias and related issues will also be a key component of this B.Tech programme.

Sumohana Channappayya, Dean (Research and Development), IIT Hyderabad, said demand for professionals trained in this area far exceeds the current supply.

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