MOU Signing with IIT-BHU

In a significant step towards strengthening agri-innovation and rural development, the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi and the Foundation for Advancement of Agriculture and Rural Development (FAARD Foundation), Varanasi have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding to promote sustainable agricultural growth and livelihood security in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The MoU was formally signed by Prof. Amit Patra, Director, IIT (BHU) and Prof. Panjab Singh, President, FAARD Foundation. Under this strategic partnership, both institutions will work together to develop Eastern Uttar Pradesh as a Lighthouse Region for agri-innovation by combining IIT (BHU)’s advanced research capabilities with FAARD Foundation’s strong grassroots network.

Prof. Rajesh Kumar, Dean (Research & Development), IIT (BHU) elaborated on the key areas of collaboration, including demonstration of smart agricultural technologies, development of AI and IoT-based digital twin platforms, establishment of a digital knowledge repository, promotion of youth agripreneurship, integration of climate-smart and renewable energy solutions, capacity building of FPOs, hands-on student training, farmer field trials, and joint funded research projects.

Dignitaries Present

Both institutions will jointly share intellectual property generated through collaborative projects and establish a strong two-way technology transfer mechanism between research laboratories and rural communities. This landmark collaboration marks a major milestone in building a robust, inclusive, and sustainable agri-innovation ecosystem in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, creating new opportunities for farmers, youth, and agripreneurs.