Andhra Pradesh Government is set to implement Harita project, an integrated information service system that harnesses the potential of remote sensing technologies taken up to improve productivity.
Harita, which stands for Harmonised Information of Agriculture, Revenue and Irrigation for a Transformation Agenda, is part of creating technology-based information-highway in the State.
During a meeting at Secretariat, State Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the programme would be implemented involving agriculture, revenue, irrigation departments and AP State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (APSRSC) as a pilot project in three districts of the State with an outlay of Rs 30 crore.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, the programme aims to provide integrated information services through standardisation of data aimed at effective decision-making.
The programme seeks to enable better planning of agriculture extension and irrigation and deployment of new technologies for agriculture, effective water management and also facilitate work audit. The pilot initiative allocates works department-wise and lays thrust on collection of ground data and upload it online for real-time tracking.
Each department listed its targets and challenges and working strategies by using technology.
The Geographical Information System-based maps will be developed by APSRSC for 12 major projects and involves GIS mapping of canal networks. The GIS layers proposed include area localised under each project, area irrigated under each source, season-wise, cropped area, production and productivity maps, disaster mapping, ground water levels and ground water quality.
The Chief Minister said Harita services could be extended to other institutions and departments including Banks (for crop loans), Insurance Companies (crop insurance), marketing, taxation, planning (economics and statistics), animal husbandry, fisheries, rural water supply, rural development (watersheds) and registration and stamps.