MoU singed between SAC-ISRO, Ahmedabad and VNMKV, Parbhani

The MoU helpful for providing accurate agromet advisory at block & district level 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Space Applications Centre (SAC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad and Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani was signed on 17^th January, 2023. The MoU was signed by Dr. Indra Mani, Honble Vice Chancellor, VNMKV, Parbhani and Dr. Nilesh Desai, Honble Director, SAC, ISRO and  on 17^th January, 2023 at SAC, ISRO, Ahmedabad. 

During the event, Dr. Indra Mani shared his vision for the use of space science in agriculture and proposed that a Center of Excellence on Space Application in Agriculture be established at VNMKV, Parbhani, in collaboration with SAC, to benefit researchers. On this point, Dr. Desai, Director SAC also agreed that the new centre of excellence will open the door for VNMKV students and researchers to work with satellite data in the future.

Dr. Bimal Kumar Bhattacharya, Group Director, BPSG also expressed a desire to work on drone based technology and satellite based products with the Agromet Unit for identifying real time farm problems. Dr. Kailas K. Dakhore, Agrometeorologist, AICRPAM, and VNMKV also shared their experiences with satellite products influencing Agromet Advisory and identifying yield losses due to excessive rainfall. 

Dr Rahul Nigam SG, BPSG and all other SAC team working in the agriculture area also expressed interest in working with VNMKV. On this occasion, Dr Milind Mahajan, Group Director, Antenna Division, Dr Rashmi Sharma, Group Director, Dr Gyatri, Dr D R Rajak, Dr Méhul Pandya, Mr Vivek Pandey, Mr Amit Jain and other SAC officers were present.

This MoU will benefit both organisations immensely and pave the way to serve the farmers of Marathwada in particular and Maharashtra in general. The VNMKV Parbhani will get satellite products and Agromet Products for preparation of Agromet Advisory at block and district level. The products such as soil moisture, NDVI, PET, Day and Night time LST which are almost real-time having only two days lag time will serve whole Natural Resources Management team of VNMKV Parbhani to provide precise and effective advisory services to farmers and conduct research on different aspects of NRM field. The Gramin Krushi Mausaam Seva Yojana at Parbhani has been already preparing the spatial Agromet Advisory since 2019 at block and district level. Now the SAC will provide more products as well as act as a partner with VNMKV, Parbhani to facilitate research work by students and scientists for the welfare of the whole Marathwada region.research work by students and scientists for the welfare of the whole Marathwada region.