Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, virtually addressed a programme organised at ICAR, Pusa, New Delhi, on the occasion of National Space Day. The theme of the programme was ‘Research and Development in Space Technology for Agricultural Transformation’. ICAR Director General, Dr. M.L. Jat, along with senior scientists, were present on the occasion.

Shri Chouhan said he was very eager to see National Space Day also being celebrated at ICAR. “Through space science, we are bringing change in India and the world. We all know how important technology and science are in agriculture – and we must take it further,” he said.

Calling scientists the “modern sages”, Shri Chouhan said, “We have changed farming, its direction, and transformed farmers’ lives. We have ensured food security for the people. We have achieved record food grain production, and space science has made an incomparable contribution. Space applications are now central to agriculture – from crop yield estimation, cropping systems, wheat, rice, mustard, cotton, sugarcane production, acreage assessments, to weather information – space technology plays a key role.”

He said that earlier, weather forecasts relied on folklore and assumptions, but today ISRO’s Geo Portal provides nearly accurate information on rainfall, drought, and weather. “Farmers now plan their farming based on this. The portal also gives information on soil moisture, integrates crop health data, and provides precise information,” he said.

Shri Chouhan noted that technologies have been developed to detect pests from photos uploaded by farmers, and for real-time wheat monitoring, sowing, and harvesting area estimation. The Agriculture Ministry’s figures now match those of NRSC’s CROP framework (Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress). With NASA-ISRO’s NISAR mission, accurate estimates of soil moisture, crop health, and biomass – from small plots to large tracts – have become possible.

He pointed out that earlier, concerns about the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana included flawed crop-cutting experiments and lack of transparency. “Sometimes farmers whose crops suffered loss did not get compensation, while those unaffected did. But with satellite-based remote sensing, crop loss can now be accurately assessed, enabling rightful compensation through satellite images,” he said.

He emphasised that space science aids in timely warnings during rising temperatures, storms, or droughts, helping in disaster management and crop protection. Information must reach farmers directly, and awareness-building is vital. He added that the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ was launched precisely to bring scientific achievements in agriculture directly to farmers.

“Our current challenge is to provide farmers with real-time information, so they can benefit in their farming decisions. I have complete faith in our scientists’ capabilities,” he said. Farmers, during the campaign, raised several practical demands, including a request for devices to detect fake fertilisers and pesticides, and to identify their contents. “This is a serious issue as farmers are suffering losses. In soybean fields, pesticide use has burned crops. I urge scientists to work with urgency on this,” he added.

Shri Chouhan clarified that by science, he does not mean space science alone. “Wherever space science is useful, apply it. But alongside, research and experimentation in other agricultural sciences must define new dimensions of progress. Nearly 500 new research topics have emerged from the campaign, and work is needed on these. Move forward with the spirit of ‘One Nation – One Team – One Goal’. One team should focus research on one subject to yield logical results,” he said.

“Through science and technology, we have transformed farmers’ lives – but much more remains to be done. Effective steps are needed for small farmers’ plots, solutions must be found for virus attacks in sugarcane and cotton, and productivity of pulses, oilseeds, and soybean must be increased,” he said.

Shri Chouhan expressed pride in India’s space achievements, saying, “Today the world is amazed by our accomplishments in space. I heartily congratulate astronaut Shri Shubhanshu Shukla. His successful mission has opened new doors for faster progress in this field. This mission will always remain auspicious for humanity.”

Stating that India’s scientific tradition is ancient, he said, “We have not learned from others but taught the world. Thousands of years ago, Aryabhata laid the foundations of mathematics and astronomy. We are carrying forward that tradition. Chandrayaan’s landing on the Moon’s South Pole is a matter of great pride. Today we are preparing for Gaganyaan, and our nation is advancing rapidly.”

The Union Minister urged scientists to deeply deliberate on themes such as space technology in agriculture – past and future – agricultural surveys, livestock, horticulture, natural resource management, and various crops. “The ideas shared in today’s session will yield a nectar-like roadmap for agricultural development,” he said.

Shri Chouhan extended greetings on National Space Day, calling upon all to adopt a scientific outlook in farming, animal husbandry, and agriculture to achieve better outcomes. “India has no dearth of talent. The capacity of our scientists is extraordinary, and I salute them again and again. I am confident they will continue to achieve remarkable milestones with their skill and ability,” he said. 

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   RC/KSR/AR