WCOOPEF, IIT Hyderabad TiHAN, and I-SEED IRMA Join Forces to Develop a Tech-Driven Cooperative Economic Framework for Agriculture Using IoT & Geospatial Innovation
New Delhi : In a groundbreaking initiative, the World Cooperation Economic Forum (WCOOPEF) has partnered with I-SEED IRMA (Incubator for Social Enterprises and Entrepreneurs for Development at the Institute of Rural Management Anand) and IIT Hyderabad’s Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN) to transform cooperative-driven agriculture through IoT-powered digital crop surveys and geospatial intelligence.
This collaboration aligns with the International Year of Cooperatives, emphasizing cooperative-led economic growth, sustainability, and rural empowerment. Under the vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samridhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation), the initiative aims to equip farmer cooperatives, dairy unions, fisheries collectives, and rural self-help groups (SHGs) with advanced digital technologies, enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience.
Advancing AgriTech in Cooperatives Through Digital Innovation
Led by Dileep Shanghani, Chairman of WCOOPEF, this initiative will integrate AI-driven geospatial intelligence, real-time IoT data collection, and digital mapping to enable data-driven decision-making in cooperative farming and rural enterprises.
Dileep Shanghani on the Future of Agri-Cooperatives:
“The cooperative model has been the backbone of India’s agricultural economy. By incorporating geospatial innovation and IoT-enabled digital crop surveys, we are modernizing cooperatives, making them data-driven, efficient, and globally competitive. This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samridhi’ and Viksit Bharat, ensuring that small and marginal farmers gain access to precision agriculture, real-time market insights, and financial inclusion.”
Binod Anand’s Vision for a Tech-Driven Cooperative Economy
Binod Anand, Member of the PM’s High-Power Committee on MSP, Founder President of WCOOPEF, and a strong advocate for farmer-centric value chains, highlighted the critical need for cooperatives to embrace digital transformation:
“Cooperatives must evolve into technology-driven enterprises to uplift small farmers and rural communities. This initiative will establish a Tech-Enabled Cooperative Economic Zone, leveraging IoT-driven digital crop surveys, AI-powered geospatial intelligence, and real-time market access to build a more resilient and self-sustaining cooperative ecosystem.
Through geospatial intelligence, we will enable cooperatives to access financial support, optimize logistics, and enhance post-harvest management. By integrating with national digital public infrastructure such as DigiStack and geospatial data repositories, we ensure that cooperatives can thrive locally while competing on a global scale. This initiative marks a major step toward making agriculture more sustainable, profitable, and inclusive—bringing India closer to the vision of Viksit Bharat.”