M. Shaneet, senior scientist, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has said that the ISRO has set a model for the world by sharing the benefits of space science and technology with the common man, especially farmers, in the country.
He was presenting a paper on the ‘Space Science and Technology and its applications in agriculture’ at a seminar held in connection with the National Agri-fete, being organised by the Agriculture Department at the Valliyurkavu temple ground here on Thursday. “The changes that satellite-based services have brought in disaster management, weather forecasting, crop and watershed management, and communication are models for the entire world,” Mr. Shaneet said.
Mr. Shaneet said many farmers were getting weather forecasts, and the accuracy of those predictions had increased manifold. Numerous weather stations had been set up to pick up and disseminate regional weather data accurately, apart from developing accurate analysis tools and models, he said.
“Ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, soil moisture, and solar intensity are being monitored real time across the country and updated using satellite services. When the data is combined with crop-wise needs, it becomes a crucial tool for farmers,” he said. The information was being given over phone, he added.
P. Vijayakumar, Principal, Kerala Institute Tourism and Travel Studies, presented a paper on Plantations and Responsible Tourism at the seminar. The fete will conclude on Saturday.
