From Japan to Tamil Nadu: how global farm tech firms are converging on Coimbatore

Coimbatore has become a meeting point for global agricultural technology this week, as the 24th edition of Agri Intex draws exhibitors from four countries alongside companies from nine Indian states. The expo opened at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex on Thursday and runs through July 13, spanning 150,000 square feet across 660 stalls.

Leading companies from Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu are showcasing their innovations alongside firms from Italy, Malaysia, Japan and the US, with a total of 496 companies participating. The event is aimed at bringing the latest advancements in modern agriculture, horticulture, dairy farming, poultry and food processing technologies under a single roof.

A major highlight this year is the range of automation on display, including advanced drone sprayers, direct paddy-transplanting machines and automated harvesters designed to streamline farm labour from seeding to harvest. The expo also includes specialised zones for nurseries, livestock and live machinery demonstrations, along with high-quality seeds, organic fertilisers and saplings ranging from local fig trees to climate-adapted Shimla apple plants.

Ramasamy, a farmer from Salem district attending the expo, said its footprint keeps growing each year. “With so many new automated advancements on display, farmers should definitely visit and benefit from it,” he said, adding that the event is equally valuable for younger people newly interested in agriculture.