Event attracts interest of college student from India

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Attending the Women Changing the Face of Agriculture event at Southern Illinois University provided Suma Dommati the opportunity to continue to build her agricultural network.

Currently, Dommati is studying at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana.

“I am from India and my father and mother are both farmers,” she said. “They grow corn, cotton, rice and some vegetables on 10 to 15 acres.”

After high school, Dommati decided to study agriculture.

“Agriculture is my family legacy so I got an associate degree in India, which we call diploma,” she explained. “Then I got a job in state government of India as an agricultural extension officer where I worked for six years, seven months.”

While working as an extension officer, Dommati completed her bachelor’s degree in administration.

“In order to enhance my skills I came to the U.S. in August 2023 and enrolled at Valparaiso University to study management and technology,” she said.

At the university, Dommati is working as a research assistant with her professor on a project using AI in corn production.

“We are using drones to detect pests or diseases in corn with AI technology,” she said. “Farmers will use the information to decide how much chemical to spray.”

The research project is in its beginning stages.

“I’ll be working on it about six months,” Dommati said. “I also have an internship with Corteva in Johnston, Iowa, and I will be completing my MBA in December.”

The college student used a Google search to find agricultural events and conferences across the United States.

“I found this all-women gathering about agriculture and I thought it was a good opportunity,” she said about the event organized by Illinois Agri-Women.

“When I got here, everybody has been so warm and welcoming. They have made me feel so comfortable,” Dommati said. “Everybody should participate in this kind of program to know more about agriculture.”

“I didn’t know anybody when I came here, but it is my pleasure to be here,” she said. “I would like to come to this event next year.”

Dommati has a curiosity and passion for using technology in agriculture.

“In India there’s a lot of hunger, we have food, but there is no proper supply chain,” she said. “I would like to see the world where there is no hunger; that’s my passion.”