In a move aimed at accelerating technology-led rural development, the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi (IIT-BHU) has extended financial and institutional backing of approximately ₹40 lakh to agri-tech and climate-tech startup eVerseAI. The support comes through the I-DAPT Hub Foundation under the Government of India’s National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems.
The mission, implemented by the Department of Science and Technology, aims to strengthen innovation ecosystems and promote technology adoption across agriculture and allied sectors. In eastern Uttar Pradesh, where dairy farming plays a crucial role in rural livelihoods, such interventions could have significant economic implications.
Strengthening Dairy-Based Rural Economies
Districts including Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, and Jaunpur depend heavily on dairy farming as a supplementary income source for small and marginal farmers. However, productivity gaps, limited data access, climate risks and supply chain inefficiencies continue to constrain growth.
By leveraging artificial intelligence and digital tools, eVerseAI aims to improve farm-level decision-making, enhance productivity and build resilience against climate variability. Technology-driven insights in feed optimisation, herd health monitoring and supply chain coordination could help increase milk yields while reducing input costs.
Institutional Backing and Ecosystem Development
According to Prof. R.S. Singh, Director of the I-DAPT Hub Foundation, the combination of institutional mentorship, national mission support and industry collaboration positions the startup as a potential catalyst for dairy transformation in eastern UP.
Beyond immediate technological gains, the initiative signals a broader shift towards integrating cyber-physical systems within India’s dairy value chain. If scaled effectively, such models could strengthen farmer incomes, improve efficiency and support sustainable growth in the organised dairy sector.
