Meet MONICA, arguably the first crop simulation model (CSM) to be successfully integrated on a cloud platform.
The feat was accomplished by the Consortium of Researchers for Disruptive Technologies in Agriculture (CDTA) led by scientists of the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Kerala, (IIITM-K), based at Technopark here recently.
MONICA — short for ‘Model for Nitrogen and Carbon in Agro-Ecosystems’ — can supply solutions to uncertainties in the agriculture sector to a great extent, the IIITM-K said.
Analytical tools
CSMs are essentially decision-making, analytical tools that furnish farmers with plot-level advisories, taking into account parameters that determine crop productivity such as soil conditions and weather.
MONICA can be used to provide real-time guidance to farmers. Based on the recommendations provided by the model, farmers will now be able to take remedial actions, if required, with regard to crop-related issues, the IIITM-K said.
Members of CDTA
The Indian members of CDTA include R. Jaishanker, Professor, IIITM-K; A.S. Nain, Professor, GBPUAT, Pantnagar; R.R. Nidamanuri (IIST); Subin John Mathew, Researcher, IIITM-K; S.C. Rajan, Researcher, IIITM-K; and Pawan Mall, Researcher, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology - GBPUAT).
V.K. Dadhwal, director of ISRO’s Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), is the mentor of CDTA.
“CSMs are an evolving area of technology. But so far, they have been functioning as stand-alone models,” Dr Jaishanker said.
The CDTA, which focuses on leveraging disruptive technologies to improve agriculture, has been formed by bringing major institutions from across the globe under one umbrella.
