Srinagar: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir Thursday inaugurated a 21-day training programme on ‘Remote Sensing and GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management’.
The remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) training is being 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.
Total 30 students from various faculties of SKUAST-K, the University of Kashmir and some other institutions are participating in the 21-day training for enhancing their skills in RS and GIS for global natural resource management.
Director Education and Dean Fisheries, Prof MH Balkhi, in his inaugural address, said remote sensing and GIS play an important role to monitor and manage natural resources and provide a flexible environment for storing, analyzing and displaying digital data.
He said the training will provide an opportunity for the participants to understand and utilize the specialized capabilities of the image source and analysing techniques for natural resource management and agriculture.
Director Planning and Monitoring and PI NAHEP, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganie, in his address, said that traditional subsistence-based agriculture has changed to a commercial, profitable vocation which is driven by knowledge and technology. He said the new age agriculture needs a highly skilled natural resource, who can use the GIS and remote sensing.
HoD Soil Science Prof Farida Akhter provided a detailed introduction of the programme and its purpose. Course director of the programme, Dr Shabir Ahmed Bangroo, in the welcome address, provided details of the various session and introduction of the experts conducting the training. Dr Mohammad Iqbal Bhat presented the vote of thanks, and Dr Owais Bashir conducted the proceedings. Several faculty members, staff and students of the university participated in the inaugural function.

KR Desk