Amid mounting challenges such as erratic climate patterns, water scarcity, and declining soil quality, Somaiya Vidyavihar University is reshaping engineering education to respond directly to agricultural needs. The AgriTech Hackathon 2025–26 demonstrated this approach by encouraging students to engage with farmers and develop solutions rooted in on-ground realities.
Led by the K J Somaiya School of Engineering and organised by its Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering in collaboration with the K J Somaiya Institute of Applied Agricultural Research (KIAAR), the two-phase national initiative aimed to connect agricultural practice with technological development. The event underscored the university’s emphasis on experiential learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving beyond classroom settings.
The first phase was held at KIAAR in Karnataka, where over 40 student participants and teams stepped directly into farming communities. Instead of relying solely on prepared briefs, they interacted with more than 300 farmers, agricultural scientists, and industry representatives.
Discussions covered soil conservation, irrigation efficiency, crop disease control, nutrient optimisation, yield forecasting, and sustainable cultivation methods. These interactions resulted in 26 practical problem statements reflecting everyday agricultural concerns.
The hackathon brought together Dr. P. L. Patil, Vice Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad, along with representatives from leading agricultural institutions, Godavari Biorefineries Limited, research bodies, and members of the farming community—highlighting the value of collaboration across sectors.
Dr Nandkumar Kunchge, Director of KIAAR, noted that involving farmers, researchers, and students throughout the process helped ensure the solutions would remain practical and sustainable over time. The second phase took place at the university’s Mumbai campus. Drawing from field observations, students worked intensively over 24 hours to create agri-tech solutions addressing irrigation management, disease detection, nutrient monitoring, yield estimation, sensor-based systems, and environmentally responsible farming practices.
Teams collaborated under real-world constraints, refining their ideas into workable prototypes designed for long-term agricultural impact. The event’s chief guest, Rahibai Soma Popere—recipient of the Padma Shri and the Nari Shakti Puraskar and widely known as the “Seed Mother of India”—addressed participants with reflections from her lifelong work in conserving indigenous seed varieties.
She spoke about learning from nature and cautioned against overdependence on chemical pesticides and hybrid seeds, emphasising the link between soil health and community well-being. The hackathon concluded with an awards ceremony honouring teams whose solutions demonstrated both technical strength and practical value. The Special Award for the Best Women-Led Team was presented to Team Weble, while Team Black 2.0 received the Best Hardware Implementation Award. Mad Tech and Kisan Setu were also acknowledged for developing hardware-driven solutions with strong application potential.
In the main competition segment, Team Kronix secured third place, and Team Troubleshoot along with Team Circuit 25 shared the second position. The first prize was awarded to Team Snack Overflow from Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering for their outstanding performance in the contest.
The winning team developed a tractor-mounted sprinkler system aimed at reducing water wastage and improving irrigation efficiency—two persistent concerns in Indian agriculture. Through this initiative, the university reaffirmed its belief that meaningful education extends beyond lecture halls, empowering students to co-create practical solutions alongside farming communities.
Somaiya Vidyavihar University, accredited with an ‘A’ Grade by NAAC and established in 2019, stands as one of India’s premier universities, carrying forward the rich 84-year legacy of Somaiya Vidyavihar. Guided by its motto ज्ञानादेव तु कैवल्यम — “Knowledge Alone Liberates” — the university is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, holistic development, and strong moral values.
Offering a wide spectrum of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes, the university blends interdisciplinary learning, research-oriented education, and robust industry partnerships. Located strategically in Mumbai, it provides students with exposure to diverse disciplines such as Management, Engineering & Technology, Education, Dharma Studies, Commerce & Business Studies, Basic & Applied Sciences, Sports, Civilisation Studies, Music & Performing Arts, Art, Film, Humanities & Social Sciences, Language & Literature, Design, and Library & Information Science.
Somaiya Vidyavihar University encourages innovation through its Startup Incubator and places strong emphasis on experiential learning and real-world problem-solving. With an unwavering commitment to sustainability, research excellence, and leadership development, the university continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of higher education in India.
