Rama Krishna Sangem
The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) inaugurated the grand finale of the 7 th edition of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) – Software Edition on the theme of “Agriculture” under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Education and AICTE, Government of India on December 11, 2024.
This year, the prestigious SIH consisting of 17 themes is being conducted simultaneously across 51 nodal centers nationwide, with IITH serving as a host for the first time and will be concluded on 12th December 2024 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressed the gathering on the occasion and interacted with young innovators at the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon 2024 consisting of 17 themes on 11th December 2024 at 4:30 PM, via video conferencing.
The event consisting of 17 themes was virtually inaugurated by Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan and the local inaugural ceremony on the theme of “Agriculture” at IITH was graced by Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director of NAARM, ,Hyderabad as the Chief Guest and Dr. Shreenivas Desai, Professor and Nodal Officer, PPMC & ICAR, UAS Dharwad, and SPOC, University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad, participated as the Guest of Honour.
IITH has hosted the SIH Grand Finale, for the first time, on the theme of “Agriculture”. By prioritizing innovative solutions in agriculture, SIH 2024 empowers young minds to address real-world agricultural challenges, driving sustainable advancements that have the potential to transform India’s rural economy and strengthen its food systems. Four winning teams will be honored with a cash prize of one lakh rupees each, wwhich will be awarded by the Chief Guest during the valedictory function on December 12, 2024.
4 key problem statements
Participants will tackle four key problem statements: 1 Mobile App for Direct Market Access for Farmers 2 AI-Driven Crop Disease Prediction and Management System, 3 Sustainable Fertilizer Usage Optimizer for Higher Yield, 4 Assured Contract Farming System for Stable Market Access.
This year’s hackathon is focused on solving real-world challenges, with IITH’s theme being “Agriculture”, aligning with the national agenda of innovation in critical sectors. The event brings together 26 teams, comprising about 200 participants and mentors from across the nation, who will work intensively to deliver innovative solutions over the two-day finale.
The program was led by Prof. B.S. Murty, Director of IIT Hyderabad, along with Prof. C. Malla Reddy, Dean of Innovation, Translation, and Startups & Dr Phanindra Varma Jampana, FIC, E-Cell, IIT Hyderabad reflecting IITH’s commitment to fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship, said a press release.
