21-day workshop on Remote Sensing, GIS concludes at SKUAST-K

Srinagar, Feb 25: For enhancing the skills of students and faculty in global natural resource management, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir conducted a 21-day training programme on Remote Sensing and GIS Technology.

The ‘Remote Sensing & GIS Technology & Applications for Natural Resource Management’ training was organised by the university’s Division of Soil Science, Faculty of Horticulture under the World Bank-ICAR funded National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) for the institutional development of SKUAST-K.

About 25 students and 15 faculty members from various faculties of SKUAST-K, the University of Kashmir and some other institutions participated in the 21-day training.

Speaking at the valedictory function, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Mushtaq Ahmad, emphasized the use of GIS in various agricultural fields like pathology, soil science, entomology, veterinary science forestry and fisheries. He also stressed to conduct more such training programmes in the future. While congratulating the organisers for such initiatives to skill the students and staff, he assured his full support for conducting such events in the future as well.

Director, Planning and Monitoring, and Principal Investigator NAHEP, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, while speaking at the occasion, said that faculty and students should regularly update the skills to keep themselves abreast with the changing technologies to reduce redundancy. While stressing the importance of machine learning and robotics in modern agriculture, he said SKUAST-K is collaborating with various institutes across the globe for mainstreaming the new-age technologies in agriculture research and education at the university and its application in the field.

Prof Dil Mohammed Makhdhoomi, Controller of Examination, SKAUST-K, emphasized on the importance of remote sensing and GIS for the researchers in today’s era. Head, Division of Soil Science, Dr Fareeda Akhter apprised the august audience regarding the achievement of the Programme. Dr Shabir Ahmad Bangroo, AP Soil Science and course director of the training programme highlighted the importance of the current training programme for effective and efficient management of natural resources in the present climate change scenario.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmad Malik, Associate Director of Education welcomed the guests; Dr Mohammad Iqbal Bhat course co-director presented the vote of thanks. Dr Owais Bashir conducted the proceedings of the programme and Dr Tajamul Islam Shah was the student facilitator of the training programme. Besides, several SKUAST-K faculty, staff and students participated in the valedictory function.