Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar chaired the meeting regarding the utility of The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, (SUPARCO) crop reporting data (through satellite technology, along with provincial crop reporting services data.
Representatives (DG-Director) from SUPARCO, members Crop Reporting Services, KPK, Punjab, Sindh and senior officials of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research were present in the meeting.
In the meeting the primary focus was to discuss the utility of devising a comprehensive crop reporting strategy through satellite technology under the supervision of Ministry of Food Security with inclusion of Crop Reporting Services of all provinces. Moreover the zoning of country for identifying major and minor crop zones requires provincial feedback and inclusion of work already done in this respect.
SUPARCO is Pakistan’s premier national space agency of the Government of Pakistan, responsible for the nation's public and civil space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research, with a mandate to strive to achieve self-reliance in space technology and its application for national security, economy and society. Among SUPARCO’s focused areas earth observation is also very important which also include managing natural resources, such as energy, freshwater and agriculture.
It is pertinent to mention that a project monitoring of Crops through satellite technology in collaboration with SUPARCO and NFS&R was implemented before as well.
Federal Minister Khusro Bakhtiar said that utility of satellite technology is extremely important for identification and estimation of crop zoning, estimated yield, production capacity and weather forecast for perfect planning to overcome challenges faced due to the decrease in production/yield of major crop. In this technology, crop monitoring is performed using data and products obtained by moderate and high-resolution remote sensing satellites.
Federal Minister was briefed by the CRS from KPK, Sindh, Punjab and SUPARCO and mechanism developed by these agencies for estimation of crop yield and crop area.
Khusro Bakhtiar said that a consolidated monitoring system may be developed in collaboration with the Ministry and could be replicated for the mapping of minor crops and to devise a strategy for addressing the issues relating to demand and supply of these commodities.
Federal Minister directed that a follow up meeting should soon be held among all stakeholders to devise a uniform strategy in collaboration with provincial CRS’ and SUPARCO.
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