Hyderabad: The Telangana government plans to use advanced technology for better agricultural planning. On Friday, State Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao led a meeting discussing a new crop monitoring project by Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTAU).
This project will use Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data to accurately measure crop areas in the state. Minister Rao noted that early crop estimates can improve government programs and policy decisions. He instructed university scientists to implement this technology by August-September, promising full government support and funding.
Scientists from the university are working with a Swiss company to show SAR’s effectiveness in tracking crops during rainy seasons in various states. SAR imagery can precisely monitor crops even with heavy cloud cover, overcoming traditional satellite limitations.
The meeting also explored how sensor technology could predict pest attacks. Minister Rao advised PJTAU to start field trials on different crops this season. Researchers explained that sensor data helps in early pest detection and targeted control, surpassing traditional methods in speed and detail.
With a new crop insurance scheme on the horizon, the minister asked PJTAU to create and share technical guidelines to aid policy execution and raise farmer awareness. Integrating SAR and sensor data will be vital for assessing risks and handling claims in the new insurance model.
The review featured experts like Dr. Sameerendu Mohanty, Dr. T.L. Neelima, Dr. Y. Balaram, and Dr. B. Balaji Nayak. These innovations mark a major step in digital agriculture for Telangana. With scientific and policy support, PJTAU’s plan could revolutionize crop data management, benefiting farmers and planners alike, according to the university experts.
