Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Bhagirath Choudhary has launched the Krishi Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS), a satellite-based geospatial platform.
The platform is designed to revolutionize the way Indian farmers manage their crops by providing real-time data on various crucial agricultural parameters.
The launch took place during the National Conference on Space Solutions for Transforming Agriculture in India, part of the celebrations ahead of the first National Space Day on August 23, 2024.
Features and benefits of Krishi-DSS
Krishi-DSS is the first of its kind in India and is specifically designed for the agriculture sector. The platform offers a comprehensive set of tools and data, including satellite imagery, weather information, reservoir storage, groundwater levels and soil health information.
Information is accessible to farmers and stakeholders anytime, anywhere, enabling better decision-making and more efficient farming practices.
The system includes advanced modules for crop mapping and monitoring, which help understand cropping patterns, promote crop rotation and foster sustainable agriculture.
The drought monitoring feature provides near real-time data on soil moisture, water storage and crop conditions, helping farmers anticipate potential droughts.
In addition, the platform supports segmentation of field plots, allowing for precise targeting of interventions based on the unique needs of each plot.
Impact on Indian agriculture
The launch of Krishi-DSS marks a pivotal moment in Indian agriculture, with the potential to significantly improve productivity and sustainability.
By integrating data from diverse sources, the platform provides farmers with insights into crop health, weather patterns and soil conditions – all crucial to optimising crop yields and managing risks such as pest attacks and extreme weather events.
Agriculture Secretary Dr Devesh Chaturvedi highlighted the transformative role of space technology in agriculture, stressing the need for early warning systems for rainfall and lightning. The platform’s ability to provide such alerts could be vital in reducing losses and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
The conference where Krishi-DSS was launched also underlined the importance of collaboration between government, private sector and academia to advance the use of space technology in agriculture.
Nilesh M Desai, Director, Space Applications Centre, said space technology has been applied in Indian agriculture since 1969 and the new platform represents a significant advancement in this continuing partnership.
Krishi-DSS is part of the broader Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture initiative announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the 2023 Budget.
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