National Seminar Showcases Cutting-Edge Tools Including Drones, Satellites, & AI

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has succeeded in the adoption of precision farming as a transformative solution for ensuring food security and sustainability in agriculture. Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICAR, emphasized this vision during a national seminar on "Smart Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment."

Dr. Pathak highlighted the critical role of researchers and scientists in developing an array of technologies encompassing every stage of food production. He envisioned precision farming as the future of agriculture, leveraging space application technologies like GIS, remote sensing, GPS, and satellites to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. He further emphasized the growing importance of digital agriculture, citing increased funding from ICAR and the Government of India for smart technology applications like drones in agriculture.

Dr. Jacqueline Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT, highlighted the significance of dryland agriculture and the potential of climate-smart technologies to benefit dryland farmers. She stressed the need for translating research into practical technologies for a sustainable future, emphasizing the transformative power of digital tools in advancing agricultural practices.

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The seminar delved into the core aspects of digitization in agriculture, focusing on the integration of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, big data analytics, drones, remote sensing, sensors, and communication networks into farm production systems and natural resource management.

Experts at the event, including Dr. V.K. Singh, Director of ICAR-CRIDA, Dr. Pragati Pramanik Maity, Secretary of ISAP, and Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director of NAARM, discussed the immense benefits of these technologies for farmers. They highlighted the use of drones for spraying and variable rate technology (VRT) for precise nutrient management as examples of successful innovations. The emphasis remained on the critical need for technological advancements and innovative approaches to enhance agricultural productivity while maintaining environmental sustainability.

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The seminar served as a platform for over 350 stakeholders, including scientists, research workers, farmers, and students, to engage in productive dialogue and explore the immense potential of smart technologies in shaping a sustainable and secure future for Indian agriculture.

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