FAISALABAD City News

‘Precision agriculture has gained popularity across globe’
From Our Correspondent
FAISALABAD: A well-planned Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) data and Geographic Information System (GIS) for agriculture will help the farmers to know about the status and future prospects of crops that is need of the hour to ensure food security, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice-Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.
Addressing at the inaugural session of the world space week at the UAF here on Monday, he said that precision agriculture had gained popularity across the globe, enabling some countries to reduce cost of production through use of information technology, geographical information system and space technology. He said that given the increasing population, higher per acre yields were vital to ensuring the food security.
Suparco National Agriculture Information Director Ijaz Ahmad Bhutta said that the Suparco undertook research and conduct pilot studies based on the applications of Satellite Remote Sensing data and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to natural resources surveying, mapping and environmental monitoring. He said that the Suparco in collaboration with the Ministry of Food Security had kicked off a project to monitor crops such as cotton, sugarcane, rice, maize, wheat, using remote sensing technology in different areas of the country. He said that they had conducted research studies in space and atmospheric sciences, including satellite meteorology, satellite radiance, troposphere/stratosphere studies, atmospheric pollution, satellite geodesy and astronomy.
The students exhibited skits and performances to highlight the importance of space and pledge to save the country from the manmade disaster. Later, an awareness walk was taken out from Iqbal Auditorium to University D-Ground.