COLLECTION OF REAL TIME DATA ON CROPS

1043. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
be pleased to state:

(a) whether Ministry of Science and Technology intends to soon roll out a mechanism to collect real time data on health stress status for standing crops and to advise State Governments and other stake holders; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Department of Science and Technology have developed capabilities whereby it is possible to monitor crops on a weekly basis using a biomass index to demarcate areas where crop is under stress. The system allows monitoring of the following five attributes on a regular basis using multiple satellite data namely:

(i) The acreage under different crops at he district and village level;
(ii) Per hectare production of the crop at the village level;
(iii) The health of the crop and identification of areas affected by disease or under stress;
(iv) Soil moisture, rainfall and surface temperature, critical parameters for agriculture ; &
(v) Impact of severe weather conditions such as drought, hailstorms etc.

The parameters from (iii) to (v) above are directly related to assessing the health of crops during the agriculture season. The method has been successfully tested and validated in the State of Haryana and with nominal increments it is being extended to cover the whole of India. The data on these parameters is being provided to Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. This programme, in consultation with the above State Governments, is also developing parameters for scanning for different crop diseases. The information currently being provided can be used to make a host of timely interventions like import policies, insurance schemes, irrigation schedules, and credit availability etc.