IIT Ropar’s Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture, ANNAM.AI, has launched AVNI – Grow with Nature, a new digital learning initiative designed to introduce children to agriculture, plants and nature through artificial intelligence and experiential learning.
The initiative aims to develop agricultural awareness among children from an early age by connecting technology with everyday experiences. Through AVNI, young learners can explore the plants, crops and food products they encounter around them while gaining a better understanding of where food comes from and how agriculture supports everyday life.
AVNI Connects AI With Experiential Agricultural Learning
Developed by Dr Mukesh Saini, Co-project Director of ANNAM.AI, AVNI is available as a web and mobile application. The platform is designed to encourage children to learn about agriculture by exploring their immediate surroundings rather than relying exclusively on conventional classroom-based education.
The application uses AI-powered identification tools to help children explore a wide range of agricultural and natural resources, including crops, fruits, vegetables, spices, cereals and millets.
The initiative is built around the idea that agricultural learning can begin with simple observations. A plant growing in a neighbourhood, a crop in a school garden or a fruit available at home can become an opportunity for children to discover how agriculture works.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr Saini said the objective is to make agricultural knowledge accessible and engaging for children. He highlighted that AVNI has been developed as a free, ad-free and privacy-focused learning platform, with an emphasis on creating a safe environment for exploration and discovery.
Hindi, English and Audio Features Expand Accessibility
AVNI has been designed to make agricultural learning accessible to children with different learning needs and age groups. The platform provides educational content in Hindi and English, while audio-based features are also available to support younger learners.
The application includes several interactive elements intended to make learning more engaging. These include daily challenges, Nature Points, a digital Nature Book and a Nature Gallery.
Another feature, Crop Compare, enables children to explore differences between crops and develop a better understanding of agricultural diversity.
By combining these features with AI-powered identification, AVNI seeks to transform ordinary interactions with plants and food into educational experiences.
ANNAM.AI Highlights Early Agricultural Awareness
Dr Pushpendra P. Singh, Project Director of ANNAM.AI at IIT Ropar, said that preparing India for the future requires educating and inspiring children from an early age.
According to him, AVNI brings AI and experiential learning together around the principle that agricultural education does not have to start only inside a classroom or after a child chooses agriculture as a formal subject.
He emphasised that everyday experiences can become learning opportunities. Whether children encounter a crop in a school garden, a fruit at home or a plant growing in their neighbourhood, these experiences can help them develop an early connection with agriculture.
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The initiative therefore seeks to channel children’s natural curiosity into a broader understanding of plants, food and the agricultural ecosystem that supports the country.
Child-Focused Design Prioritises Safety and Privacy
With children increasingly engaging with digital platforms, AVNI places emphasis on responsible technology use. Its design focuses on age-appropriate learning, privacy and safe digital exploration.
The platform’s free and ad-free approach is intended to keep the learning experience focused, while its privacy-oriented design seeks to create a secure environment for young users.
The initiative also reflects a growing effort to use artificial intelligence not only for advanced technological applications but also for education and public-interest purposes.
AVNI Supports ANNAM.AI’s Digital Agriculture Vision
The launch of AVNI forms part of ANNAM.AI’s wider work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, agriculture, education and Public-Interest Technology.
ANNAM.AI is the Centre of Excellence for AI in Agriculture at IIT Ropar and is supported by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The centre works on artificial intelligence, agricultural intelligence and digital technologies aimed at strengthening India’s agricultural ecosystem.
Its broader activities include AI-based agriculture, climate intelligence, digital agriculture, farmer advisory services and capacity building.
Through initiatives such as AVNI, ANNAM.AI is pursuing a larger vision of developing AI-powered Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Indian agriculture. The focus is on creating solutions that are open, accessible and scalable across India’s diverse agricultural environments.
AVNI consequently represents more than a digital learning application. By bringing AI into children’s everyday encounters with plants, crops and food, the initiative seeks to nurture agricultural awareness early and encourage a generation that understands the vital connection between technology, nature and India’s agricultural future.
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