BACKGROUND AND INVITATION
The Rainfed agriculture plays an important role in Indian economy. Around 68% of total net sown area (136.8 m.ha) comes under rainfed lands spread over 177 districts. Rainfed crops account for 48% area under food crops and 68% of the area under non-food crops. Nearly 50% of the total rural workforce and 60% of livestock in the country are concentrated in these areas.
Uncertainty in production due to fluctuations intotal rainfall and changes in its distribution affect the livelihood of many poor and marginal farmers. The central part of the country, in particular the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, is facing severe agrarian crisis. The vagaries of the rainfall resulting in drought conditions, low crop yields,inadequate land management practices and the prevailing socio-economic conditions forcing the farmers to abandon the age-old livelihood system. Thus there is an immediate need to address the sustainability of the rainfed agriculture system through state-of-art technology.
The recent advances in spatial technology with the availability of very-high spatial resolution, hyperspectral, multi-temporal optical data along with thermal and microwave data, has opened new vistas in advanced image processing techniques for large scale applications. Synergistic use of remote sensing data, along with GIS and location-specific services provides new opportunities for sustainable development of agriculture systemat micro-level. A National Symposium is, therefore, planned during the Annual Convention of ISRS-2009 at Nagpur on the topic
“ADVANCES IN GEO-SPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABLE RAINFED AGRICULTURE”.
All members of the Society, professionals, academicians, students, NGOs and private entrepreneurs are CORDIALLY INVITED. This event is being hosted by Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre (RRSSC), Maharashtra Remote Sensing Applications Centre (MRSAC), National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) and ISRS Nagpur Chapter.