Krishi-DSS: Satellite-based Farm Decision Support System Launched

A satellite-based agricultural decision support system has been launched to equip farmers with critical data for management of crops and raising productivity. It is a geospatial platform which will offer real-time information on crop conditions, weather patterns, and water resources, besides soil health.

The Krishi-Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS) was unveiled by Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary in New Delhi on Friday. Amid growing climate challenges, the system is likely to prove itself as a new milestone for farmers, Choudhary said.

Officials said that Krishi-DSS has been developed using technology similar to the government's Gati Shakti initiative. The Krishi-DSS platform has been developed using RISAT-1A and VEDAS of the Department of Space, they said.

It will utilise satellite imagery to deliver early warnings about potential disasters such as pest attacks and extreme weather conditions. The system is expected to help in crop mapping, monitoring, and promoting crop rotation and diversification, besides providing data on crop patterns across regions and tracking crop conditions throughout its various growth stages.

Use of space technology in agriculture is highly beneficial for farmers. Such space technologies have been applied in the farm sector since 1969. Scientists have suggested the use of this technology in more crop varieties beyond paddy and wheat.