Workshop cum Demonstration Programme on Drone Technology in Agriculture
A workshop cum Demonstration programmeon Drone Technology in Agriculture was organized under ICAR-Network Program on Precision Agriculture (NePPA) at ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack in collaboration with ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi on 21st April, 2022. Around 100 participants including scientists from various ICAR institutes like NRRI, Cuttack; IIWM, Bhubaneshwar; CIFA, Bhubaneshwar; Staff from various KVKs; progressive farmers from adopted villages of ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack and research scholars attended the programme. The major objective of the workshop cum demonstration programme was to familiarize scientists, KVK staff and farmers with use of drones for data collection and data visualization using multi and hyperspectral sensors mounted on drones, followed by need based input application. Dr. A.K. Nayak, Head, CPD, ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack welcomed the guests. A brief introduction about Network Program on Precision Agriculture (NePPA) was given by the project leader Dr. R.N Sahoo, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. Dr. Pramila Krishnan, Head, Division of Agricultural Physics, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi spoken about the importance of drone technology in agriculture. Dr. Padmini Swain, Director, ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack emphasized the role of drone technology in quick diagnosis of crop health, precise application of inputs and conservation of resources. Co-PIs of the NePPA project Dr. S.D. Mohapatra, Dr. Sangita Mohanty, Dr. S. Raghu, Dr. B. Raghavendra Goud from ICAR-NRRI and Dr. Rajeev Ranjan, Scientist, IARI were also present. After the inaugural session, Dr R.N.Sahoo and other NePPA team members from IARI conducted field demonstration on crop monitoring using drone sensors followed by demonstration on variable input application by Mr. Abhishek Burman and team of M/S. General Aeronautics, Bengaluru. On completion of the field demonstration, presentation of the crop images captured by the drone sensors was done followed by brief discussion on the drone technologies and its impact on agriculture. Scientists from various institutes, KVK staff and farmers expressed their views, concerns on use of drone technology in crop production. Finally, the workshop ended with the vote of thanks by Dr. Rahul Tripathi, Senior Scientist and PI (NePPA) from ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack.
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| Brief introduction about NePPA by the project leader Dr. RN Sahoo | Demonstration of drones mounted with sensors |
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| Variable input application using drones | Vote of thanks by the organizing secretary and PI, NePPA, Dr. Rahul Tripathi |
