23 August 2025, New Delhi
To mark National Space Day today (August 23, 2025) commemorating the historic soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar south pole in 2023 with the theme “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities”, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) organized a half-day workshop on “Research and Development in Space Technology for Agricultural Transformation” at the NASC Complex, New Delhi.
In his virtual Inaugural address, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, emphasized the invaluable role of space and satellite technologies in transforming agriculture. He noted that these technologies have revolutionized farming practices, guided future directions, and ensured food security for millions. “Through innovative applications, agricultural forecasting has become easier and more accurate. With satellite imagery, we can now assess crop losses effectively and ensure fair compensation to farmers,” he added.
The Minister further stressed the need to provide farmers with timely and accurate real-time information to enhance productivity. Highlighting the principle of ‘One Team, One Task,’ he urged that dedicated teams work on specific subjects to generate maximum output. He also underlined that addressing agricultural challenges requires strong collaboration between science and space technologies, with greater focus on innovative solutions to boost production.
Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), in his remarks, highlighted ICAR’s significant role in advancing agri-space collaborations and developing innovative applications of satellite-based technologies for precision farming, resource management, and policy planning. He stressed, “Research and development in space technology is crucial for transforming agriculture. As we witness evolving mega trends in the sector, it is imperative that we keep pace with these advancements to drive meaningful transformation.”
Dr. Jat also underscored ICAR’s contributions, along with agricultural research institutions, in shaping space technologies and satellite applications. He called for the formation of a dedicated working group to map resources, infrastructure, and human capital across institutions. He further emphasized the need for capacity building and training programmes to develop an actionable roadmap for advancing geospatial and space technologies in agriculture.
The event began with a welcome address by Dr. C. Vishwanathan. A technical session on “Space Technology for Agriculture: Past & Future” was chaired by Dr. S.N. Jha, Deputy Director General (Agril. Engg.), ICAR, followed by a panel discussion and open deliberations.
The celebration brought together scientists, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to explore the convergence of space research and agriculture. The discussions reinforced the vision of leveraging India’s advancements in space science to create smart, climate-resilient, and farmer-centric solutions for the future of agriculture.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Anil Rai, Assistant Director General (ICT), ICAR.
(Source: ICAR-Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, New Delhi)
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