The Skill Development Centre, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), organized a two-day training course on the “Role of Internet of Things (IOT) in Transfer of Agricultural Technologies” for in-service candidates. A total of seven officers from various departments of Punjab attended the course, held under the guidance of Dr GS Buttar, Director of Extension Education.
Dr Rupinder Kaur, Associate Director (Skill Development), highlighted that IoT solutions were focused on helping the farmers to bridge the food supply – demand gap by ensuring higher crop yields, profitability and protection of the environment. The course was designed to provide in – depth knowledge about the need and implementation of IoT in agriculture, she added.
Dr Prerna Kapila, Course Coordinator, informed that IoT included smart devices that could transfer data over a network. So, smart farming based on IoT technologies enabled the farmers to reduce resource wastage and enhance productivity, she said.
Dr Vishal Bector, Associate Director (Industry Linkages), discussed the application of IoT in smart agriculture. He explained the usages of drones, robots, remote sensors and computer imaging combined with continuously progressing machine learning and analytical tools for monitoring the crops.
Dr Mahesh Narang, Principal Extension Scientist-cum-Head, Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, explained the use of agricultural drones, one of the major applications of IoT in farming. “Drones are generally used for crop health imaging, integrated GIS mapping, spraying of pesticide and fertilizer in the field,” he observed. With the strategy and planning based on real time data collection and processing, drone technology will give a high tech make over to the agricultural industry, he added.
Dr Mohit Gupta, Professor, School of Business Studies, shared useful tips for marketing through use of IoT.
Dr Rohit Sharma, Professor, Processing and Food Engineering, provided tips for expert system in agriculture sector to work effectively and globally.
Dr Nilesh Biwalkar, Professor, Soil and Water Engineering, dwelt upon micro irrigation with the help of IoT and how this technology helped to work globally.
Dr Lavleesh Garg, Extension Scientist and Technical Coordinator, observed that the use of technologies in agriculture would reduce human efforts, simplify farming methods and aid in smart farming, thus assisting the farmers in expanding their market with a single touch and minimum effort.
Later, Mrs Kuldeep Kaur proposed a vote of thanks and remarked that IoT was a driving force for increasing agricultural production in a cost-effective way.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=8352
