Naidu to inaugurate AP agriculture-technology hackathon

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu is expected to inaugurate Andhra Pradesh's first-ever agriculture-technology hackathon scheduled to begin tomorrow in the coastal city Vishakapatnam, an official said today.
More than 1,500 business heads, farmers, NGOs, experts from agriculture and technology were expected to participate in the three-day event -- AgTech Summit 2017.
The valedictory session of the event will be presided over by Microsoft Corporation's co-founder Bill Gates, said T Srinivasa Rao, Officer on Special Duty to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
"The initiative will be a great integration of IT and Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture sector besides giving importance to horticulture, aquaculture and animal husbandry," Naidu said in a statement.

The event is being organised by the Andhra government along with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dalberg Advisors and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
The government will sign agreements with top three start-ups, after a contest, that are providing technology- based solutions for small and marginal farmers.