The Hindu Business Line : Seminar on use of space tech in farming

There is a need for greater use of space technologies in farming and agro-processing to make agriculture sustainable, economical and cost-effective, according to Mr P. Chengal Reddy, Chairman of the Federation of Farmers’ Associations in Andhra Pradesh.

At a press meet here on Friday, he said space technologies relevant to agriculture had been developed 15-20 years ago, “but unfortunately there has been no transfer of technology. Agriculture, therefore, remains an unremunerative occupation in the country.”

Mr Reddy said the AP Federation of Farmers’ Associations, in association with Andhra University and other agencies, were organising a one-day seminar on Saturday to sensitise farmers and the general public on applications of space technologies in farming.

Dr Anil Kakodkar, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, would deliver the inaugural address, he said. The conference would be held in the B.R Ambedkar Hall in the university.

Experts would deliver lectures on radiation processing of foods and food products, remote sensing-based soil studies, organic farming and other issues, he said.

Earlier, four such conferences had been held in the State and more would be organised in future.

Waste management

Dr A.M. Patankar, the head of the technology transfer division in the Babha Atomic Research Institute (BARC), said he would present a paper tomorrow on the deployment of space technologies in rural areas.

“Especially, in waste management the technologies are of great help. In fact, there is no such thing as waste. It is a very useful resource,” he remarked.

Dr K. Mruthyunjaya Reddy, the Director of the AP State Remote Applications Centre, said precision agriculture could be achieved through application of space technologies and it would not be very costly.

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