Intello Labs, a global artificial intelligence (AI) powered quality assaying start-up, formally announced the launch of their Praman business today, which has been in stealth mode over the past few months. Praman is ground-breaking agriculture produce trade exchange platform, with integrated quality assessment. Praman is building a much-needed quality layer between farmers and traders to accelerate and accomplish the digital transformation of Indian agriculture. Within a few months since its launch, Praman has already achieved a monthly gross transaction value (GTV) of US$ 40 million. Praman has successfully re-engineered auctions and trade through AI-based quality assessment, making them data-driven and digital.

In a recent discussion paper, NITI Aayog has chalked out an ambitious strategy for India to become an artificial intelligence (AI) powerhouse. AI is the use of computers to make decisions that are normally made by humans. Many forms of AI surround Indians already, including chatbots on retail websites and programs that flag fraudulent bank activity. But NITI Aayog envisions AI solutions for India on a scale not seen anywhere in the world today, especially in five key sectors -- agriculture, healthcare, education, smart cities and infrastructure, and transport. In agriculture, for example, machines will provide information to farmers on the quality of soil, when to sow, where to spray herbicide, and when to expect pest infestations.

TimesJobs powered'Artificial Intelligence' community - Times AI Hub - conducted its maiden event at IIT Delhi to discuss the industrial uses of AI. The event brought together AI industry stalwarts and students and highlighted real-life use cases from farming to telecom. New Delhi, January 25, 2018: When Saudi Arabia granted citizenship to humanoid robot Sophia, most people didn't know how to react to the fact that a life-size bot was'living' among them, dressing up meticulously and talking about her aspirations of having a family. Bots have long been used to facilitate basic, repetitive jobs in many industries. In India, we may not have a bot as celebrated as Sophia, but bots are already serving food in a Chennai restaurant and helping customers in a Mumbai bank.

For years and years, after every agricultural produce, Indian farmers have bundled up their produce, stacked them in trucks and moved to the mandis in their district with hopes to sell at a fair price. However, many a times, they are forced to go back with their produce either because of the interference of middlemen offering them a lower price or the quality failing to pass the test. According to studies, 54.6% of the Indian population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities (census 2011) while the contribution to the country's Gross Value Added accounts to 17 per cent. Needless to say, the Indian Agriculture industry forms a major part of the economy. The challenges and opportunities in the industry has opened the gateway to entrepreneurship, leading to the formation of various agritech startups.