ICAR Sponsored HRM Training on " Smart Digitals Tools for Sustainable Agriculture " for Sientific staff of ICAR institutes and different SAU has been inaugurated on 15-10-2024 at ICAR- CRIDA, Hyderabad which is being conducted for 10 day s from 15-24 October 2024. The main aim of this training program to nurture Scientific staff under HRM category on smart digitals tools. 21 Participants from 12 states out of that 15 from ICAR Institutes, 6 from SAU’s were attended. The Heads of Divisions, Sections, Project coordinator AICRPDA and AICRPAM and OIC’S of CRIDA also attended the inaugural program.

Dr. Sanjay Kumar,Chairman, ASRB was the Chief Guest for the inaugural session.

Dr. Sanjay Kumar emphasized the importance of Smart digital tools in crop management. He suggested the participants to utilize the training in learning data handling, analysis and developing the data formats in collection of data in usage of drones, and suggested the participates to use the learned technologies in their respective domains. He has explained about practical usage of digital tools in agriculture and asked to apply these tools on handling big data and develop the technologies which will be useful to the farmers. He also emphasized to work together across the disciplines in developing the technologies using the smart digital tools.

Dr. Shaik N Meera, Director, ATARI Zone-X, and guest of honour expressed that Digital agriculture is the way forward. Dr. Shaik N Meera, in his address spoke on the variety of new digital apps, tools and techniques available for experimentation in agriculture, such as drones and artificial intelligence. He stressed on the need to explore the use of these contemporary technologies in traditional farming, to find innovative uses, He said that through more intensive research, India can rise to become a world leader in agricultural productivity.

Dr. V.K. Singh director CRIDA welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of digital technologies in agriculture. He has given overall objective of the course. He particularly stressed the participants to learn usage of digital tools and analysis techniques generated data from drones, IOT in agriculture.

During the Inaugural session released compendium of lectures books titled “Smart Digitals Tools for Sustainable Agriculture” was released

Dr. N. Ravi Kumar , Principal Scientist and Course Director proposed the vote of thanks During the ten days of short course, the participants will be familiarized with topics like the theory and practical’s of smart digital tools like AI/ML, building IOT applications for data collection, chat bot for agricultural applications, usage of drones in agriculture and other related topics.