Farmers introduced to precision agriculture technologies

Nauni, June 11, 2024: A week-long training program on Precision Agriculture Technologies commenced at the Department of Soil Science and Water Management at the Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni. This initiative is part of the Precision Farming Development Centre(PFDC) project. Thirty farmers are participating in the training.

During the inaugural session, Dr. Inder Dev, Director of Extension Education, emphasized the significance of precision agriculture technologies in achieving higher productivity in agricultural and horticultural crops. Dr. C.L. Thakur, Dean, College of Forestry, addressed the participants, stressing the importance of the precise use of costly agricultural inputs.

Dr. M.L. Verma, Professor and Head of the department, discussed the background, genesis, and formation of the PFDC scheme, which is sponsored by the National Committee on Precision Agriculture and Horticulture (NCPAH) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of India. He highlighted the importance of micro-irrigation, protected cultivation, and rainwater harvesting for producing high-quality crops.

Dr. Ghanshyam Agrawal, Principal Investigator of the project, informed the participants about innovative agricultural technologies and their benefits, including digital agriculture, automation in irrigation and fertigation, hydroponics, vertical farming, and energy-efficient solar greenhouses. Over the coming days, the training program will include classroom lectures, field demonstrations, and field visits to showcase the success stories of progressive farmers. The program is also being attended by faculty, staff members of the department, and representatives from the Nauni panchayat.