August 22, 2009
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India
ISRO classes on tea watch…
Siliguri, Aug. 21: Tea planters were today briefed on the various applications of the Geographical Information System (GIS), a project taken up by the Tea Board in association with the Indian Space Research Organisation.
Experts from Isro, the department of space of the central government and the Tea Board spoke at the first national-level workshop held here today.
“The focus was on the elaborate and varied use of the satellite mapping to be done through remote sensing. The Tea Board will have information about the total area under cultivation, quality and age of the bushes and details of existing natural resources. Once the project is implemented, there will be regular updates on climatic conditions, pest attacks and likewise,” said Amal Roychoudhury, the deputy director of the Tea Board in Siliguri.
“The experts asked planters and other stakeholders to provide more information on tea estates to make the satellite mapping comprehensive,” said Roychoudhury.
Tea Board officials said a host of other tasks could also be executed with the help of the data obtained through the GIS. The tasks include the marking of land for cultivation in the gardens, measurement of area needed for shade trees, determination of sand suitability for tea and alternative crops, management of water resources, the monitoring of uprooting and re-plantation areas and web-enabled MIS (management information system).
“Once the mapping is complete, advance warning on climate, pest attack and quality of tealeaves can be given,” said Bijoygopal Chakraborty, the convener of the United Forum of Small Tea Growers’ Associations, an apex body of small growers in the region.
“These would definitely help us in many ways. Experts present at the meeting also made it clear that the information would be updated on a regular basis,” he added.
The project, which would cost around Rs 6 crore, was taken up by the Union ministry of commerce and industries in the 11th Five-Year Plan.
