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Software Engineering

Notes

Caselet ICAR Plans to Adopt GPS Tech for Appropriate
Farming Techniques

he Indian Council of Agricultural Research is working on a scheme to increase
agricultural productivity by providing exact information to farmers on the type of
Tcrops they should grow, fertilizer and water requirements through the use of GPS
technology.
Under the project, ICAR has collected global positioning system (GPS)-based soil samples
across the country on the nutrient status and acidic reaction of soil in agri-regions to build
a database on the appropriate farming methods to be employed for maximum productivity.
Subsequently, information on appropriate farming techniques to be adopted in specific
areas, as identified through the GPS-based soil samples, will be disseminated to farmers
over the internet.
The Project Directorate for Farming System Research (PDFSR), Meerut, an institute of
ICAR, is already implementing the initiative on a pilot basis in two villages of Western
Uttar Pradesh — Jainpur in Meerut and Matiala in Ghaziabad.

“The agricultural land will be divided into homologous zones on the basis of the
requirement of fertilizers, the data along with the map of the particular agricultural field
will be available on the internet which could be easily accessed by the farmers,” the
Project Director of PDFSR, Modipuram, Meerut, Mr B. Gangwar, said.
According to scientists, the requirement of fertilizers in the soil depends on their qualities,
such as the extent of acidity & alkalinity, PH value, humus content and the type of crops
harvested and sown which largely varies.

Over-use of fertilisers is turning the soil infertile, which is a major concern, Mr Gangwar
said.
“The data will be updated after every crop,” he added.

In addition to GPS, Global Information System (GIS) and Simulation Modelling for Decision
Support System (DSS) will be utilised for this project. The farmers will also be able to
know the type of crop suitable for their fields.
The results of the pilot projects in Western UP are encouraging, Mr Gangwar said.
“In India, agricultural land is shrinking rapidly so we have no other option but to conserve
and utilise the natural resources for maximum productivity by using appropriate techniques
of farming system,” he said.
According to government estimates, small and marginal farmers will hold more than 91
per cent of farm holdings by 2030.
ICAR scientists have also developed an integrated farming system, which increases the
productivity of water by up to four times and in this system, rice cultivation is integrated
with pisciculture and poultry farming.

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