Google Collaborates with UP Government to Launch Gemini-Powered Open Network for Farmers

The Uttar Pradesh government, in collaboration with Google Cloud India, has launched the Gemini-powered, Beckn-enabled Uttar Pradesh Open Network for Agriculture. The initiative aims to support millions of farmers by offering a single platform for advisory services, credit, mechanisation, and market linkages.

This first-of-its-kind digital public infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture leverages Google’s DPI-in-a-box solution and the Beckn protocol, enabling interoperability and decentralised discovery of services. Farmers can access the platform using voice commands in languages like Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, and Punjabi, with more languages to be added in 2025.

“This agreement demonstrates the UP government’s commitment to good governance and digital empowerment,” said Manoj Kumar Singh, state chief secretary. “The Open Network for Agriculture is a major step toward doubling farmers’ income. By leveraging AI, it addresses the digital divide and equips our farmers with the tools and resources they need to thrive in today’s day and age.”

Unlike traditional marketplaces, this open and decentralised platform allows service providers, from input suppliers to financial institutions, to connect with farmers directly. It also enables anyone to curate these services, build farmer-facing solutions and foster innovation.

“We are proud to partner with the government of UP on this pioneering initiative,” said Bikram Singh Bedi, vice president and country MD of Google Cloud India. “Technology is critical for accelerating agricultural progress, and this Gemini-powered Open Network offers an open, decentralised approach that innovators can leverage to build solutions for farmers.”

Sujith Nair, CEO of FIDE (Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy), which developed the Beckn protocol, said, “Beckn aims to unlock access and enable value exchange at population scale. We’re thrilled to see the UP government and Google Cloud India leverage Beckn protocol to launch a state-wide Open Network for Agriculture in India.”

This initiative underscores the state’s efforts to digitise its agricultural ecosystem and bridge the digital divide, thereby making it a model for scalable open solutions in India.