In a significant boost for innovation in agricultural technology, a final-year engineering project from Lucknow University has been selected for a prestigious state grant. The project, developed by BTech students, aims to revolutionize farming practices through a smart, data-driven support system.
Project 'Krishi Sakhi': A Tech-Powered Aid for Farmers
The winning initiative is titled 'Krishi Sakhi'. It is a comprehensive smart agriculture decision support system designed to provide farmers with scientific, data-backed guidance. The core objective is to improve farming outcomes by leveraging technology to inform critical choices.
The project has been chosen for funding under the Engineering Students' Project Grant Scheme for the 2025-26 cycle, administered by the Uttar Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (CST-UP). This selection highlights the practical potential and relevance of the students' work in addressing real-world challenges.
The Team and the Guiding Vision
The project is spearheaded by student Ratnesh Tripathi. His team comprises fellow final-year BTech students Krishna Yadav, Abhishek Pandey, and Aditya Maurya. Providing expert supervision is Dr. Himanshu Pandey, an associate professor in the university's Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
Dr. Pandey praised the team's efforts, stating that the project exemplifies how modern technologies can be harnessed for social good. He emphasized that the students have shown remarkable dedication in creating a solution that empowers farmers and promotes sustainable, cost-effective agricultural practices.
How 'Krishi Sakhi' Works: Integrating AI, IoT, and Data
'Krishi Sakhi' is not a single tool but an integrated system that combines hardware and software. Its primary function is to assist farmers with three key areas: crop selection, fertiliser management, and irrigation planning.
The system's intelligence comes from multiple layers. It utilizes an AI and machine learning (AI-ML) engine for data analysis and decision-making. This engine processes information from a wide array of sources, including:
- Weather forecasts and satellite imagery.
- Government agricultural databases and soil profile data.
- Current and historical market price trends for crops.
On the ground, a portable sensor unit built around an ESP32 microcontroller collects real-time field data. This unit, equipped with various sensors, monitors crucial parameters like soil moisture, temperature, and pH levels. Data from this unit is transmitted via GSM communication for analysis.
By synthesizing real-time sensor data with large-scale external datasets, 'Krishi Sakhi' can provide personalized, localized recommendations to farmers, helping them optimize resources and increase productivity.
Next Steps and Future Presentation
The grant will support the further development and refinement of the 'Krishi Sakhi' prototype. The student team is now working towards a crucial milestone: presenting their functional prototype before a panel of experts from the CST-UP. This presentation is scheduled for April 2026.
This achievement by Lucknow University's Faculty of Engineering and Technology students underscores the vibrant culture of innovation within Indian universities. It demonstrates how academic projects can directly contribute to solving pressing national issues like agricultural sustainability and farmer empowerment through the smart application of interdisciplinary technologies like Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics.
