Kolkata, 20th December 2023: About C-DAC: The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is a premier research and development organization under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), Government of India. C-DAC, Kolkata, a constituent unit of C-DAC, is actively engaged in spearheading state-of-the-art technological solutions for the benefit of society. Its sphere of activities includes the application of ICT and electronics for agriculture, Defence Research, Research in the areas of signal processing, and quantum technologies to name a few.

ICSTA 2023: C-DAC, Kolkata, in collaboration with the University of Calcutta, marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of the ‘International Conference on Systems and Technologies for Smart Agriculture (ICSTA 2023)’ on Tuesday, 19th December 2023, at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, New Town, Kolkata. Themed “Cultivation of Civilization through Sustainable Agricultural Practices – Together We Make It Possible,” the two-day conference sets the stage for transformative advancements in the field of agriculture.

The conference was inaugurated by Mr. S. Krishnan, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. The occasion was also graced by distinguished guests like Prof Nazir Ahmed Ganai, Vice Chancellor, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Prof. Debatosh Guha, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technolgy, University of Calcutta; Dr. Aloknath De, Chairman NSC and Ex Corporate Vice President of Samsung Electronics, NSC (AgriEnIcs), Samsung India, and Shri Aditya Kumar Sinha, Senior Director and Centre Head, C-DAC, Kolkata. The General Chair of the conference was Dr. Alokesh Ghosh, Associate Director, C-DAC, Kolkata, and Professor. Amlan Chakraborty, Director A.K. Choudhury School of Information Technology University of Calcutta, University of Calcutta.

The event featured esteemed speakers from around the globe, including Prof. John K. Schuller, University of Florida, USA; Prof. Ganesh Bora, Fayetteville State University, USA; Dr. Mohamed Rawidean, Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems, Malaysia; Dr. Santosh Pitla, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA; Prof. Phillip Bradford, University of Connecticut, USA; Dr. Matthew Burnett, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa ; Prof. Anupam Chattopadhyay, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; and Dr. Sruti Das Choudhury, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA addressing various facets of the conference theme on 19th and 20th December 2023.

Objective and Impact: ICSTA 2023 aims to be a pivotal platform for the scientific community and industry to deliberate on agricultural practices that preserve Earth’s natural resources, elevate crop quality, protect the environment, and mitigate health hazards for farmers through the integration of electronics and ICT technologies. The conference spotlights significant research and applications, showcasing emerging technologies and information management for the betterment of the agricultural sector.

Research Program and Innovations: Sponsored by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and in collaboration with leading institutions, the event featured an extensive research programme addressing key issues in agriculture. Special highlights include the Vision-guided AI-enabled Robotic Apple Harvester, IoT Solution for Poultry Farm Practice, Electronics Platform to Monitor Cattle Health and Milk Quality, AI-based Air Quality Monitoring System (AQ-AIMS) for Mine and Cement Industries, and e-Quality – Electronic Quality Assessment Solution for Agricultural Commodities for eNAM.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Aditya Kumar Sinha, Senior Director and Centre Head, C-DAC, Kolkata stated, “ICSTA 2023 is a pivotal event that bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and sustainable agricultural practices. By bringing together experts, scientists, and industry leaders, we aim to foster a collaborative environment that catalyzes innovation and propels the agriculture sector towards a more sustainable and technologically advanced future.”

During the event, the Secretary, MeitY, Government of India, underscored the transformative potential of technology in the agricultural sector of the country. In addition, he highlighted the importance of employing technology ethically and inclusively for the advancement of society. Furthermore, he referenced the technological solutions developed by C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) that have yielded lasting improvements in agricultural productivity within the nation.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Aditya Kumar Sinha, Senior Director and Centre Head, C-DAC, Kolkata stated, “ICSTA 2023 is a pivotal event that bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and sustainable agricultural practices. By bringing together experts, scientists, and industry leaders, we aim to foster a collaborative environment that catalyzes innovation and propels the agriculture sector towards a more sustainable and technologically advanced future.”