IIT Bombay Partners with SKUAST-K to Set Up Rural Data Research Centre in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, in collaboration with Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), is set to establish a Centre of Excellence on Rural Data Research and Analysis (RuDRA) aimed at transforming agriculture and rural life in Jammu and Kashmir through data-driven solutions.

A day-long brainstorming workshop, organised under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), was held at SKUAST-K’s Shalimar campus on Wednesday to outline the vision and operational framework of the upcoming centre. The initiative seeks to harness advanced data analytics, remote sensing, and GIS technologies to support rural policy planning and agricultural innovation in the region.

The RuDRA centre, formalised earlier this year through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIT Bombay and SKUAST-K, will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research in areas such as precision agriculture, climate resilience, soil health, water resource management, public health, education, and rural infrastructure.

Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, who was the chief guest, emphasised the transformative potential of the initiative. He reiterated the university’s commitment to integrating technological innovation with traditional farming practices to enhance farmer livelihoods and rural development.

Experts from IIT Bombay, university faculty, and government officials participated in the workshop. Dr Mohamed Kasim Khan, Senior Research Scientist at IIT Bombay, provided insights into the MoU and collaborative framework, while Dr Pennan Chinnasamy, Professor in Charge of the RuDRA initiative, highlighted the centre’s mission to address complex rural challenges through data.

The partnership will enable joint research, training, faculty exchange, and student internships. It will also support the implementation of HADP by generating actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners.

Director Research at SKUAST-K, Prof Haroon Rashid Naik, noted the importance of innovative extension models and announced the development of a Jammu & Kashmir Soil & Land Information System under the centre’s purview.

A brainstorming session, moderated by Dr Shabir A Bangroo and Dr Kasim Khan, explored strategies to operationalise the RuDRA centre and tailor its outputs to the unique socio-agricultural landscape of the region.

On the occasion, IIT Bombay conferred National Geospatial Awards 2025 to Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai for innovation in geospatial applications, Prof Haroon R Naik for contributions to agricultural research, and Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Shailendra Kumar for exemplary administration of agri-schemes, particularly HADP, in Jammu and Kashmir.