A two-day International Buyer Seller Meet and Exhibition, dedicated to exploring the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on agricultural productivity, kicked off in Agra on Saturday. The event, witnessing participation from forty buyers representing ten nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Greece, Nepal, and Bahrain, is being jointly organized with the support of the World Economic Forum. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Manoj Kumar Singh, in the presence of Agra division commissioner Ritu Maheshwari and district magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami.

Minister for horticulture, Dinesh Pratap Singh, and agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi are scheduled to grace the closing day of the meet on Sunday. A significant announcement regarding the establishment of the International Potato Centre in Agra has already been made. Highlighting the importance of agriculture in Uttar Pradesh, APC Manoj Singh mentioned, "Uttar Pradesh has agriculture at the epicentre of its economy, with farming covering 75% of the state’s land, compared to the national average of 55%."

Discussions at the event delve into the utilization of artificial intelligence to enhance agricultural yields. The agenda also encompasses a meeting on the Digital Agriculture and Export Promotion Council, with a special emphasis on water conservation through the Uttar Pradesh Micro Irrigation Programme. APC Manoj Singh stressed the significance of experienced farmers, asserting that they often surpass expert scientists in farming knowledge. The exhibition at the venue, awaiting the establishment of the International Potato Center, showcases innovations in agriculture, especially benefiting the Agra, Aligarh, Kannauj, Farukkhabad belt, a major potato-producing region in the state.