IIT Guwahati sets up centres to boost rural livelihoods

New facilities under the School of Agro and Rural Technology to focus on innovations in sustainable farming, aquaculture, and wellness products.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, on Thursday, launched two interdisciplinary research centres aimed at developing technologies that can enhance livelihood opportunities for rural communities.

The Centre for Innovation in Agri & Aqua Voltaics (CIAAV) and the Integrated Facility for Wellness-Product Innovation (IFWPI) have been established under the institute's School of Agro and Rural Technology (SART).

The centres will work on sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, and the development of wellness products derived from local resources.

The announcement came during the Second Annual Review Meeting of the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) 2.0 Projects.

A.K. Sood, principal scientific adviser to the Government of India, said in a statement that the broader objective of RuTAG initiatives was to ensure rural technologies move beyond pilot stages. “The Rural Science and Technology Partnership Centre envisions serving as a hub for 25 to 40 surrounding villages, and integrating technologies such as soil health management and satellite-based information to strengthen rural development,” he said.

He added, “To achieve this goal, we must collectively focus on two key aspects, the diffusion of technologies beyond initial implementation areas and ensuring standardisation, documentation, testing, and validation.”

Parvinder Maini, scientific secretary in the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, said the rural sector must remain a key area for science and technology-led interventions. “Under RuTAG 2.0, we must ensure market readiness, commercialisation, and deployment of these technologies for the rural sector's all rounded growth,” she said, adding that the Northeast holds strong potential for innovation-led sustainable development.

RuTAG 2.0 projects are implemented through several academic and research institutions including IITs in Guwahati, Delhi, Bombay, Roorkee, and Madras, as well as SKUAST-Kashmir and ICAR-NAARM.

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Source: EconomicTimes
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