A three-day Capacity Building Programme on “Digital Agripreneurship” was organized at Babu Jagjivan Ram Agricultural College, Sircilla, from 19th to 21st 2026.

A three-day Capacity Building Programme on “Digital Agripreneurship” was organized at Babu Jagjivan Ram Agricultural College, Sircilla, from 19th to 21st  January, 2026, with the objective of enhancing students’ awareness of digital technologies, innovation, and entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture. The programme involved experts from academia, industry, agri-startups, government organizations, and innovation hubs. A total of 45 students from constituent colleges of PJTSAU, namely Agricultural College, Sircilla; Agricultural College for Women, Karimnagar; College of Fisheries Technology, Rudrur; and College of Agricultural Engineering, Sangareddy, were selected for participation based on the innovative ideas submitted during the Design Thinking course (IV Year, I Semester).
Day 1: Monday (19.01.2026)
The programme commenced with an Inaugural Session, which began with a warm welcome by the ARISA Lab and AgHub Foundation team, who briefed the participants on the objectives, structure, and expected outcomes of the programme.
Dr. Razia Sultana, Associate Dean (i/c.), BJR Agricultural College, Sircilla, addressed the gathering and highlighted the critical role of digital technologies in transforming Indian agriculture. She emphasized that future agriculture depends not only on production but also on innovation, precision farming, and data-driven decision-making. She motivated students to look beyond conventional jobs and consider agripreneurship and startups as promising career options. She also encouraged students to actively utilize platforms such as ARISA and AgHub to nurture innovative ideas and become job creators.

Chief Guest Remarks

• Dr. Jella Satyanarayana, Project Head, ARISA Lab, explained the vision of ARISA in promoting AI-enabled solutions for agriculture and motivated students to develop problem-oriented digital innovations.
• Sri. Ranjan Kumar Naik, General Manager & Director, SBIIT, Hyderabad, motivated students by sharing insights on industry expectations, funding opportunities and the importance of interdisciplinary skills for successful agripreneurship.

Technical Sessions

• Mr. Mukesh Ramagoni, Project Manager, AgHub, PJTSAU, delivered a session on Industry 4.0 and its relevance to agriculture, highlighting smart farming, automation and digital ecosystems.
• Mr. Sisir Chandra, Founder & CEO, HeliotAI, spoke on data-driven agricultural tools and motivated students to leverage AI and analytics to solve real-time agricultural challenges.
• Mr. Yuvaraju, Director, HeliotAI, shared entrepreneurial experiences and guided students on navigating challenges and opportunities in agripreneurship.
• Ms. Maneesha N, Project Manager, RICH, Government of Telangana, elaborated on government-led initiatives supporting digital agripreneurship, incubation and startup funding.
• The AgHub team conducted an interactive session on digital agriculture startup ideation, followed by briefing on presentations and templates.

The first day concluded with enthusiastic interaction and active student participation.
Day 2: Tuesday (20.01.2026)
The second day focused on advanced digital technologies and their applications in agriculture.

• Mr. Rajashekar Reddy, Founder & CEO, Delta Things, along with Mr. Syam, AI Expert, ARISA Lab, explained the application of Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture, emphasizing information-based decision making and precision farming.
• Mr. Trivikram, Founder & CEO, Xmachines, delivered an insightful lecture on robotics in agriculture, highlighting automation and labor-saving technologies.
• Dr. Balaji, Founder, Renkube, explained the concept of agriphotovoltaics and its role in smart and sustainable farming systems.
• Mr. Hemanth Kumar, Founder & CEO, Vyomic Drones, demonstrated the role of drones in digital farming, including crop monitoring, spraying and data collection.
• Ms. Sukriti, Partner, Avid Invent, emphasized the importance of data security and intellectual property rights in digital agriculture startups.
• Mr. Sahil, Lead Marketing & Communications, TGIC, Government of Telangana, motivated students on building a convincing pitch deck, stressing clarity of ideas and market relevance.

The sessions inspired students to integrate technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship in agriculture.
Day 3: Wednesday (21.01.2026)
The final day focused on funding, business models, and student innovation.

• Mr. Tajdar, Head of Programs (MSME & Grassroots Youth), WeHub, Government of Telangana, explained the funding and investment landscape in agripreneurship, motivating students to convert ideas into viable startups.
• Student presentations were evaluated by experts from ARISA, AgHub and PJTSAU, providing valuable feedback and encouragement.

Valedictory Session
The programme concluded with a valedictory session and certificate distribution, graced by Sri. Ghanshyam Solanki, DGM, SBI, Warangal, Dr. J. Suresh and Dr. Jella Satyanarayana, who appreciated the enthusiasm and innovative thinking of the students.
Conclusion
The three-day Capacity Building Programme on Digital Agripreneurship was highly successful in motivating students towards innovation, technology adoption, and entrepreneurial thinking in agriculture. The programme enriched students with practical knowledge, industry exposure and confidence to pursue digital agripreneurship and contribute to sustainable agricultural development.