ORISSA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY IN COLLABORATION WITH CENTRE FOR SPATIAL ANALYTICS AND ADVANCED GIS (C-SAG), BENGALURU & TATA TRUSTS, BHUBANESHWAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIA METOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT AND ODISHA AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT & ORSAC INTRODUCTION 1-DAY CONSULTATION WORKSHOP ON GIS BASED FARMER ADVISORIES Today, data and information plays an important role in bringing logical decision-making, intelligence and wisdom to farming activities. In recent years, the spatial character of a farm or a plot is gaining prominence and greater significance for managing that piece of land for agriculture. Realtime data on crops is generated in multitude of ways through satellite measurements and imaging; through sensors in the field; using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS); embedded precise positioning using specialized hand-held devices and many, many more methods. Thus, spatial information of a farmer s field is easily generated and is of immense use to a farmer s seasonal decision-making Using Spatial Analytics (SA), the logical processing of such spatial data and information entities of a farm which can be integrated with other non-farm based spatial data on weather, markets, finance, seeds/fertilisers etc, one can make more intelligent inputs for farmer s day to day actions. In fact, using the topological, geometric, geographic and temporal properties of a plot is emerging at the forefront to determine intrinsic spatial patterns in farming patterns of commonality, optimality, suitability, predictability etc GIS BASED FARMER ADVISORIES A GIS based Agriculture Knowledge Engine (Agri-GIS) is an advanced Spatial Analytics (SA) system that advanced nations are developing towards clustered farming, precision farming and beneficiary farming services. In India, the Agri-GIS can be of immense help in supporting the Farmer Income enhancement which is a major goal of the Government to double farm income in next 5 years. The Agri-GIS engine can provide the agriculture sector with an advanced knowledge base and the potential to solve the challenges being faced by the farmers. At the outset, the Agri-GIS engine can focus on enhancing agricultural productivity at the farmer s level and thereby enable farmers to increase their productivity and income. The Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) is collaborating with Centre for Spatial Analytics and Advanced GIS (C-SAG), in association with Tata Trusts, to develop the
Agri-GIS solution which will initially be developed and rolled out in three districts of South Odisha, with a clear objective of making a difference to the lives of farmers. Using SA and advanced GIS techniques, it is planned to develop a comprehensive multiparametric data for each and every plot/cadastre and linked to the social, economic and farming details of beneficiary farmers. SA can enable dis-aggregated data analysis at farm level of almost 200+ parameters (including, weather, soils and soil nutrition, landuse, slopes, crop status, ground water etc and integrated with farmer s household data, external market/finance data) and generate pre-, in-crop season and post-harvest advisories. The Advisories would address different aspects of farmer s social, economic and agricultural practices and, by efficient administering through KVKs and intermediaries, can bring most modern information at hand of farmers. Tata Trusts, Bhubaneshwar and C-SAG aim to be able to deploy a Farmer s Advisory in 532 villages of S Odisha. Use of satellite images in near real-time either on daily or weekly basis can give crop status information at plot level. Thus, Image Analytics is an important element. Similarly, integrating real-time weather data and dis-aggregating to higher granularity and Weather Analytics is important. Important Data Analytics methods can help in a major way. Administering advisories is an important issue but various methods are possible, including through KVL, intermediaries and even through smart messaging systems. The advantage of such SA based Farm Advisory stems on a single, common, standardized, robust and reliable and geotagged GIS database at plot level granularity serving farmer beneficiary DECISIONS. CONSULTATION WORKSHOP OUAT, in collaboration with C-SAG and Tata Trusts, is organizing a 1-day Consultation Workshop on Farmer s Advisories with the sole aim of broad-basing the consultation and discussions on the Advisory design and implementation. It is proposed that the Workshop will address issues related to Agri-GIS, integrated plot dis-aggregated GIS databases, Advisory content, administering Advisory to farmers etc. Experts from OUAT, C-SAG, Tata Trusts, Orissa Remote Sensing Applications Centre (ORSAC), Orissa Agriculture Department; Orissa Soils Dept etc would be make key interventions and raising issues for discussions and making presentations. A High-level Panel Discussion will expert Panelists will enable participant discussions/suggestions and thus bring about a wider discussion/consultation process. At the end of the Workshop, it is aimed to have a more deeper understanding of how and what to design and develop Farmer Advisory. KEY ASSOCIATING AGENCIES India Meteorological Department, Odisha Agriculture Department and Odisha State RS Centre (ORSAC) are key agencies also involved. Apart from these, there would be many other relevant and interested organisations in Odisha that will be participating.
DATE AND VENUE The Workshop is planned on May 30, 2018 at Biju Patnaik Hall, Bhubaneshwar. PARTICIPATION Agencies which are likely to participate include OUAT, ORSAC, C-SAG, Tata Trusts, IMD, KVK, NBSS&LUP, Orissa State Agriculture department, Orissa Soils Department, other NGO s, farmers and interested scientific and agricultural communities. Participation by Invitation of OUAT only. CONTACTS For technical aspects of programme and participation/invitation, please contact: Prof Bamashankar Rath Dean, Agronomy Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneshwar M: +9437628225 Email: bsrath_09@yahoo.in OR Mr Jiten Nayak Head, Tata Trusts Bhubaneshwar Email: jnayak@tatatrusts.org M: +91 8763125083 ABOUT OUAT OUAT is a globally recognised and locally relevant premier Farm University in India providing leadingedge education, research, extension and outreach in agriculture and allied sciences that are lifeenhancing, socially sensitive, environmentally responsible and economically beneficial in the current and emerging scenario of socio-economic-climatic-technological changes in India and globe. The University serves the state of Odisha in providing template of sustainable agricultural development that would transform agriculture sector into the engine of growth of Odisha s economy and provide livelihood security of farming community. (For details: http://www.ouat.nic.in/) ABOUT C-SAG C-SAG is under the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) Society at Bengaluru India. The main goal of C-SAG is to undertake knowledge and innovation activities by developing Intellectual Property (IP) and Knowledge Assets (KA) in Spatial Analytics and advanced GIS. The IP and KA should result in building deep knowledge and innovation in the field of SA and advanced GIS and generate high-end capability in these areas in the country. C-SAG is developing a GIS based Agriculture Knowledge
Engine (Agri-GIS) an advanced Spatial Analytics (SA) system in support of Agriculture. This activity is being taken up in collaboration with Tata Trusts. (For details: www.csag.res.in) ABOUT TATA TRUSTS Tata Trusts is amongst India's oldest, non-sectarian philanthropic organisations and has played a pioneering role in transforming traditional ideas of charity and introducing the concept of philanthropy to make a real difference to communities. In a cluster of five blocks in S Odisha, Tata Trusts aims to transform the quality of life of 25,000 households that score very low in the human development index. The programme focuses on cultivation of high-value crops, supporting youth entrepreneurship, reducing dropout, ensuring grade appropriate learning level in children, health services in remote locations, providing safe drinking water and improving sanitation facilities. Tata Trusts has initiated Agri-GIS development through C-SAG to support such initiatives and help farmers. (For details: www.tatatrusts.org)
ORISSA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY In Collaboration with NIAS Centre for Spatial Analytics and Advanced GIS (C-SAG), Bengaluru & Tata Trusts, Bhubaneshwar CONSULTATION WORKSHOP ON GIS BASED FARMER ADVISORIES Tentative Programme 08:30-09:00 Sign-in (Tea/Coffee) 09:00-11:00 Inaugural Session Welcome Dr PK Roul, DEE, OUAT Opening Remarks Dr S Ayappan, Former DG-ICAR Keynote Address - Dr Mukund Rao, Chief Executive, C-SAG Special Remarks Dr Sandeep Tripathi, Director, ORSAC Special Remarks Dr SC Bhan, IMD Special Remarks - Dr M Muthukumar, IAS, Director, Agriculture & Food Production, Odisha Presidential Address Dr. Saurabh Garg, IAS, Principal Secretary, Ag & FE Department, Government of Odisha Presidential Address Prof Surendranath Pasupalak, Vice-Chancellor, OUAT Vote of Thanks Mr Jiten Nayak, Tata Trusts 11:00-11:15 Tea/Coffee break 11:15-13:00 Session-1: Farm Advisory - Design and Development 13:00-14:00 Lunch Chair: Prof Surendranath Pasupalak, Vice-Chancellor, OUAT Co-Chair: Dr Shankar, Adviser, C-SAG Rapporteurs: Dr AKB Mohapatra and Mr Anshuman Nayak, OUAT Farmer as an economic Unit and enablement C-SAG Agri GIS for Precision agriculture for development (Mr. Madhur Jain) Image and GIS data for Farmers Odisha State Remote Sensing Inputs Image and GIS data for Advisory C-SAG Farmer s - Social and Economic Indexing - TBD Weather and Meteorological Content Critical for Agri-GIS Dr SC Bhan, IMD Crop Insurance Needs of Agri Dept Rep of Odisha Agri Dept 14:00-15:30 Session-2: Advisory Content and Dissemination Chair: Dr Ayappan, C-SAG Co-Chair: Dr PK Roul, DEE, OUAT Rapporteurs: Dr AKB Mohapatra and Mr Anshuman Nayak, OUAT Comprehensive Advisory Content OUAT/C-SAG Agri Expert
Template for Agri-GIS Farmer Advisory Mr Deepak, C-SAG Models of Agri-GIS Advisory Dissemination Mr Jiten Nayak, Tata Trusts KVK Platform for Advisory dissemination OUAT Sample Spatial Analytics at Plot level C-SAG/ORSAC 15:30-16:00 Tea/Coffee break 16:00-17:30 Expert Panel Discussions on GIS based Farmer Advisories Chair/Moderator: Dr Mukund Rao, C-SAG Experts on the Panel: Dr M Muthukumar, IAS Prof S Ayappan, Former DG-ICAR Dr Sandip Tripathi, ORSAC Dr SC Bhan, IMD Mr GC Sreeram, Tata Trusts Mr. Madhur Jain, PAD (After brief statements by Chair/Moderator and Panelists, all participants may participate and make their points/observations) 17:30-18:00 Closing Session Closing Remarks by Dr B Rath, OUAT Closing Remarks by Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department Closing Remarks by Dr Mukund Rao, C-SAG Formal Vote of Thanks