Telangana launches India's first Agricultural Data Exchange

Hyderabad: Beginning a new chapter in the agriculture segment, the state government launched India’s first agricultural data exchange (ADeX) here on Friday. Developed as a digital public infrastructure (DPI) for the agriculture sector, ADeX is collaboration between the state government, the World Economic Forum (WEF), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

The government also announced the setting up of the agriculture data management framework (ADMF). IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao launched the two at an event Friday.

 “The ADeX and ADMF provide the right platform to ensure fair and efficient usage of agricultural data by the industry and start-ups and provide a big boost to the data economy, particularly in the agri-sector. These initiatives help Telangana lead the country in using innovation and technology to drive food systems transformation and improve the livelihoods of farmers,” said Rama Rao

The data exchange is an open-source, open-standard and interoperable public good, democratising access to data and enabling the public and private sector to build applications and deliver services.

"Data and digital ecosystems are critical for responsible innovation in the agriculture sector. The ADex and the ADMF highlight the power of multi-stakeholder communities and collective action in addressing complex challenges in the agriculture sector," said Purushottam Kaushik, head, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India, WEF.

 “ADeX will prove to be a game changer in the agriculture ecosystem providing impetus to research and innovation and mobilising data for healthy, sustainable, and environment-friendly agricultural practices,” said Prof G Rangarajan, IISc director.

ADeX is currently deployed in Khammam and will be expanded statewide. At the launch, several agri-tech players demonstrated their digital solutions using data accessed through ADeX. They include market advisory, pest prediction and easing access to credit.  

The ADMF has been developed after extensive public and industry consultations on data protection, management, and innovation.  ADMF is applicable to all government departments dealing with agricultural activities as well as all agriculture information users and providers. The framework provides for a robust grievance redressal mechanism.

Industries principal secretary Jayesh Ranjan,  agriculture secretary M Raghunandan Rao, emerging technologies wing director Ramadevi Lanka, WEF chief advisor J Satyanarayana, India Urban Data Exchange chief executive officer Dr Inder Gopal were also present.