State to evolve hi-tech digital  applications for farmers: DC Rana

Director, Department of Environment, Science Technology and Climate Change, D.C. Rana, stressed the effective use of the IT innovations and developing hi-tech digital applications for the Agriculturists and Horticulturists of the state. He said that the department was developing a common crowd-sourcing-based Kisan Information System for disseminating SMS and Whatsapp information on Climate Change, weather forecasts and using crowd-sourcing in weather forecasting at the Panchayat level.

While presiding over a meeting here today to review the same, he said that such application was already in use and governed by the Government of India, such as MEGHDOOT, providing necessary information to the farmers. He said that the state was also working on developing a Climate Change advisory application for the farmers of the State.

He said that a decision was taken to form a thematic working group in the State including Director, Indian Meteorological Department, Shimla, (IMD), Director Agriculture Department, Director, Horticulture Department, Director, IT Department, Chief Scientific Officer (Climate Change), Department of Environment Science Technology & Climate Change, Professors/Scientist from Agriculture and Horticulture Universities of Himachal Pradesh.

It was also decided that the Indian Meteorological Department will start the process to develop a mechanism to set up the Agro Met data collection advisory system at Panchayat levels which will prove beneficial for the farming communities.

Representatives from Indian Meteorological Department, Shimla, (IMD), Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department, IT Department and Department of Environment Science Technology and Climate Change attended the meeting.