Mumbai

Protean eGov Technologies Ltd, a leading company in the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), has won a ₹25 crore contract to implement a national-scale digital platform for Ethiopia’s agriculture sector.

Under the agreement, Protean will serve as the system integrator, providing end-to-end technology and programme management support. The scope of work includes the design, development, deployment and ongoing support of an artificial intelligence-enabled digital platform aimed at strengthening Ethiopia’s agricultural ecosystem.

The initiative will focus on creating Global Digital Public Goods (DPGs) to support a unified framework for agriculture. This will include the introduction of unique digital identities for farmers and farms, integration of data related to crops, soil and livestock, and the delivery of AI-based advisory services. The platform is intended to operate at a nationwide level, ensuring interoperability and accessibility.

Agriculture plays a vital role in Ethiopia’s economy, and the proposed digital ecosystem is expected to improve service delivery while reducing fragmentation across agricultural value chains. Through the platform, farmers are expected to gain easier access to credit, agricultural inputs, markets and government services via a secure and citizen-centric digital architecture. A key feature of the project is an AI-driven advisory layer that will provide customised, reliable and local-language guidance to farmers.

Commenting on the project, Suresh Sethi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Protean eGov Technologies Ltd, said India’s experience with Digital Public Infrastructure has demonstrated its potential to drive large-scale socio-economic transformation. He said the Ethiopia initiative reflects a global move towards open and interoperable digital systems tailored to national needs, adding that the project would help strengthen institutional capacity, empower farmers and promote sustainable growth.

Gopa Kumar T.N., Chief Executive Officer of Protean International DMCC, said the company brings over three decades of experience in building population-scale digital systems in India. He noted that Protean’s work across identity, financial and service-delivery platforms has shown how consent-based and interoperable DPI can accelerate development. He added that the Ethiopia project aligns with India’s broader vision of supporting partner nations in adopting DPI-led development models, particularly in the agriculture sector.

The mandate supports Protean’s strategy to expand its Digital Public Infrastructure capabilities beyond India, as governments in emerging economies increasingly seek sovereign, inclusive and scalable digital solutions to drive development. It also underlines India’s growing role as a global contributor of population-scale digital public goods.

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Protean eGov Technologies Limited, incorporated in December 1995 and formerly known as NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited, specialises in designing and implementing large-scale, citizen-focused e-governance solutions. The company works closely with the Government of India and has extensive experience in building critical digital infrastructure and innovative governance platforms.