Ludhiana: The College of Horticulture and Forestry at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) held a high-level expert session today, urging students to trade traditional methods for “Smart Farming” as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the global agricultural landscape.Led by Dean Rishi Indra Singh Gill, the event on “Smart Farming, Machine Learning, and Smart Marketing” aimed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and the fast-moving agri-tech industry. The session moved beyond the greenhouse to explore how data-driven decision-making is revolutionizing productivity.
Experts detailed how AI and Machine Learning (ML) are no longer futuristic concepts but practical tools for disease prediction (using algorithms to identify crop stress before it is visible to the human eye), resource optimization (precision application of water and fertilisers to maximise yield while minimising waste), and precision horticulture (controlled-environment agriculture guided by real-time sensor data).Career Frontiers in Agri-TechMalwinder Singh, an AI specialist, highlighted that the intersection of technology and biology is creating a new category of high-demand global careers. Students were briefed on opportunities in agri-business and research (roles in innovation-driven firms both in India and abroad), machine learning engineering (designing systems specifically for autonomous farming and pest detection).Branding and E-CommerceThe workshop also addressed the “final mile” of agriculture — marketing. Resource person Komal Chopra Lekhi demonstrated how AI tools allow students to bypass traditional middlemen. “AI-driven digital marketing empowers students to build their own brands and market farm products directly to consumers through sophisticated e-commerce strategies,” Lekhi noted.The session concluded with a focus on digital branding and AI-powered marketing services, equipping the next generation of Punjab’s horticulturists to manage the entire lifecycle of a crop — from a line of code to a digital storefront.
