New Delhi, India — A transformative shift is underway in the realm of agricultural education, and at the forefront stands Dr. Ankur Sharma, orchestrating a movement that seeks to reimagine how India trains and empowers its agricultural educators. With the launch of ANNADATA–2025, a 21-day International Faculty Development and Training Program, Dr. Sharma has set the stage for a revolution that bridges tradition, technology, and transnational collaboration.
From August 16 to September 5, 2025, over a thousand faculty members, researchers, and professionals are participating in this visionary program—hosted in hybrid mode and led by the Agri Meet Foundation, Bharat, in association with prestigious institutions from India, Russia, Iran, and Lebanon. ANNADATA–2025 is more than a training initiative—it is a catalyst for academic reinvention.
Dr. Ankur Sharma: A Leader of Ideas, Action, and Transformation
As the Course Director, Dr. Ankur Sharma brings both authority and vision to this initiative. Widely regarded as one of India’s most progressive minds in agri-education, Dr. Sharma has long championed the cause of transforming the agricultural academic landscape. ANNADATA–2025 reflects his core belief: that the future of agriculture lies in the hands of educators who are globally aware, digitally equipped, and deeply connected to rural realities.
Under his leadership, the program explores the intersection of technology, pedagogy, sustainability, and policy, building capacities among faculty to become not just teachers, but mentors of innovation and changemakers in rural development.
A Global Classroom for Indian Agriculture
What sets ANNADATA–2025 apart is its international intellectual landscape. With the participation of institutions like Southern Federal University (Russia), ICARDA (Lebanon), UGC-MMTTC Jodhpur, and multiple ICAR units, the program brings together academic forces from across continents to reimagine how agricultural knowledge is created, shared, and applied.
Expert sessions delve into themes such as:
- Digital Agriculture & AI Tools
- Integrated Farming & Climate-Smart Techniques
- Agri-Entrepreneurship & Innovation Incubation
- Post-Harvest Tech & Rural Value Chains
- Curriculum Reform under NEP 2020
The mix of Indian and international faculty ensures that participants are not just upskilled—but reshaped as globally relevant academic professionals.
Training With Purpose: Features That Define ANNADATA–2025
The ANNADATA–2025 program offers far more than just classroom lectures. It’s an ecosystem of experiences tailored to educational empowerment and professional advancement:
- Free International Publication: Each participant receives the opportunity to publish two research articles in the globally indexed magazine Nature Science (ISSN: 3048-8117), amplifying their research footprint.
- Hands-On Learning: Virtual labs, field demonstrations, and live project simulations ensure that knowledge is experiential, not just theoretical.
- Inclusive Audience: From graduate students to senior scientists and private sector professionals, ANNADATA–2025 welcomes every stakeholder in the knowledge supply chain.
- Focus on Real Impact: Sessions on start-up incubation, rural entrepreneurship, and grassroots innovation ensure that faculty development translates into farm-level transformation.
Collaborative Excellence: Partners Powering ANNADATA–2025
ANNADATA–2025 stands as a testament to the strength of global and national collaboration, driven by the unified vision of empowering agricultural educators. The program is organized by Agri Meet Foundation, Bharat, in esteemed knowledge partnership with UGC-MMTTC Jodhpur, Southern Federal University (Russia), Dr. YSRHU A.P, DCR Puttur Karnataka, ATARI Jabalpur, Kodagu University Karnataka, SKUAST Kashmir, MPKV Rahuri, IIRR Hyderabad, and a robust consortium of ICAR institutes and Central Agricultural Universities. This collective brings together unparalleled academic expertise, field experience, and research strength, creating a dynamic platform for innovation, policy integration, and skill development. Through this powerful synergy, ANNADATA–2025 is not only elevating faculty training but also laying the foundation for a resilient and future-ready agricultural education ecosystem in India.
Beyond a Program: A National Awakening
Dr. Sharma’s message at the inaugural ceremony was clear and urgent:
“If we want to transform Indian agriculture, we must first transform its torchbearers. ANNADATA–2025 is a beginning—a spark to ignite educational change at scale.”
His words reflect a larger mission—to equip educators who can think globally, teach locally, and lead system-wide change. In his eyes, agricultural faculty are not just conveyors of syllabus; they are architects of India’s food security, rural progress, and technological future.
Institutional Power and Partnerships
The power behind ANNADATA–2025 lies in its robust institutional framework. Knowledge partners include:
- ICAR-NDRI Karnal
- YSRHU, Andhra Pradesh
- DCR Puttur, Karnataka
- ATARI Jabalpur
- MPKV Rahuri
- SKUAST Kashmir
- UBKV West Bengal
- MGUVV Durg
- CAUs and SAUs across India
Such a wide and diverse consortium ensures that the program speaks not just to one region or model, but to India’s agricultural diversity and complexity as a whole.
A Lasting Legacy in the Making
As ANNADATA–2025 progresses, it is sowing the seeds for a future in which India’s agriculture educators are not just updated but uplifted, not just trained but transformed. Under the steady and inspiring guidance of Dr. Ankur Sharma, the program is laying the groundwork for a national network of future-ready faculty—individuals equipped to guide India toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more resilient agricultural ecosystem.
This is not just a program. It is an awakening.
