IIT Ropar’s Centre of Excellence for AI in Agriculture, ANNAM.AI, has launched AVNI, a free learning app that teaches children about farming and nature.

AVNI, short for Grow with Nature, is a web and mobile platform developed by Dr Mukesh Saini, Co-project Director of ANNAM.AI. It was launched this week.

The app uses AI to identify crops, fruits, vegetables, spices, cereals and millets that children spot around them. Content is available in Hindi and English, with audio support for younger children.

It includes daily challenges, Nature Points, a digital Nature Book, a Nature Gallery and a Crop Compare feature. The platform is free, ad-free and privacy-focused, the institute said.

ANNAM.AI is supported by the Union Ministry of Education and works on applying artificial intelligence to agriculture.

The app promotes experiential learning, encouraging children to identify plants they spot around them rather than memorising textbook pictures. Identification covers crops, fruits, vegetables, spices, cereals and millets found in the child’s surroundings.