One day awareness-cum-workshop on the collaborative research project — “Integration and Application of UAV for Crop Health Assessment and Monitoring with IIDS in Providing Evidence Based Agro-Advisory Services to Farmers of North-East India” a.k.a. Drone Ha Ka Buit Rep Thymmai (DHaBReT) funded by Digital India Corporation, MeitY, GoI was jointly organized by (1) NESAC, Department of Space, GoI, Umiam, (2) CPGS-AS, CAU(I), Umiam; and (3) Ri-Bhoi Farmers’ Union (RBFU), HQs Umsning in conjunction with “Meghalaya Farmers’ Day” on the 4th December, 2021. More than 83 farmers have participated in the programme.
Dr. S.P. Aggarwal, Director, NESAC presided the function as Chief Guest. He explained to the farmers how drone technology can be used to survey the agriculture crops, assess its health and thereafter issues evidence based agro-advisory services for increasing yield of the crops of the individual farmers. This way, drone applications could be used in precision agriculture for sustainable livelihoods among the farmers in the region.
Prof. P. Ranjit Sharma, Director of Extension Education, CAU, Imphal who joined virtually, has shown his desire and commitment to pursue the evidence based agro-advisory services of DHaBReT on land planning, crops stress management, digital market linkages of their farm produce, etc.
An exquisite drone survey and participatory mapping on the vestal agricultural land of the village was also executed by NESAC scientists Shri. Victor Saikhom and Puyam Subhas Singh along with Dr. Rajkumar Josmee Singh, Asstt. Prof., SSS, CPGS-AS, CAU(I), Umiam. The president of RBFU, Mr. Duruth Majaw, General Secretary of RBFU, Mr. Brightstarfield Khongwir and Headman Nongmawlong Village, Mr. Ecolas Wahlang have proactively supported and also shared their valuable advises to the farmers.
