RAWALPINDI: Speakers at a seminar on Thursday stressed the need for enhancing the use of space-related technologies, applications, services and information to manage water resources to fulfil the requirement of the agriculture sector.

The seminar on ‘Digital technologies for managing agriculture and water resources’ was organised at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi by the faculty of agriculture engineering.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Qamar Zaman said research-based planning was need of the time to manage water resources in adequate manners.

He said traditional ways of water management may be replaced with latest techniques and equipment to get more production.

He said digital technologies could help increase production and support in improving livelihoods of the farming communities in particular and food security of the citizens in general.

Space technology could also help educate farmers about markets besides guiding them on improved farming practices.

Private company Aratos System Netherlands’ director Dr Nikos Bogonikolos presented a report on space technologies for society, present and future opportunities.

He discussed unique advantages of stratospheric remote sensing. Stratospheric drones can move from region to region as the season progresses (similar to grape pickers) or be quickly re-purposed.

He also said high altitude platforms can dynamically adapt to cloud coverage, provide optimum revisit rate and data freshness.

Dr Akthar Abbas, assistant director surface water management section at Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Australia, spoke about impacts of climate change and system harmonisation.

He also provided a brief summary on the river system of Murray-Darling Basin of Australia.

Dr Jahanzeb Masood Cheema, incharge faculty of agriculture engineering, highlighted satellite applications in water management and crop monitoring.

Bareerah Fatima, liaison officer PCRWR’s advisory services, talked about programmes for agricultural water management in Pakistan while Dr Mohammad Naveed Tahir, assistant professor of the university, presented a paper on the application of earth observation data in agriculture.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2020