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Now an app to help farmers practice precision agriculture

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Now an app to help farmers practice precision agriculture

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]~By T V Venkateswaran

New Delhi, June 14 (India Science Wire): Engineering students at Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee have developed a mobile app that can help farmers practice precision agriculture, particularly in application of precise amounts of fertilizers.

By determining health of the crops using hyperspectral imaging of crop leaves, the app could help in rational use of fertilizers. The development has won IIT Roorkee students the Ericsson Innovation Award 2017. Over 900 teams from 75 countries participated in the global contest for developing innovative ICT ideas on the theme of ‘Future of Food’.

Farmers apply fertilizer based on their experience rather than on any rational input. Therefore, if they chose not to apply fertilisers, perhaps they may be taking a risk and suffer economic losses. On the other hand, excessive application spoils the soil and damages the environment. “If only the farmers can know the health status of the plant, then they can make a more rational choice. The app developed by our students would be handy to the farmers. They would be able to know if the crops need fertilisers or not in just a snap,” says Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee.

Named SNAP, the app uses a precision agriculture technology to determine the optimum fertiliser inputs for the crop and works on the principle of hyperspectral imaging of plant leaves. Spectral lines are like fingerprints that indicate presence or absence of a chemical by studying the light reflected by the leaf. Hyperspectral imaging combines conventional spectroscopy with imaging techniques to acquire both spectral and spatial information simultaneously for detecting physical, chemical, and biological attributes of the samples.

When the sunlight falls on a leaf, the reflected visible light and the near-infrared rays contain specific signals that tell about its chemical constituents. Water content, amount of macronutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), as well as micronutrients such as sulfur (S), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) and so on can be effectively measured using the hyperspectral imaging technology.

“The app uses mobile phone camera as the imaging device and hence could be profusely used in the field by the farmers,” pointed out Prof Chaturvedi.

The award winning team included Ekdeep Lubana, Anisha Godha Ankit Bagaria and Utkarsh Saxena with diverse expertise of electronics and communication, chemical and metallurgy. After an intense global competition, the team was one of the three global finalists to compete at Noble Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. The low-cost handheld imaging device for optimising fertiliser use in agricultural was declared the global winner and the team were awarded 25,000 Euro.

The jury was chaired by Sara Mazur, Head of Ericsson Research, had Caleb Harper, MIT Media Lab, Dr Catherine Mulligan, Imperial College London, Mattias Fyrenius, CEO Nobel Media, and Johan Jörgensen, Founder Stockholm FoodTech as members.

India Institute of Technology Delhi’s ICT product ‘Enigma’ that seeks to reduce weevil infestations in rice crop storage won the second place while  students of Aalto University, Finland who developed  ‘Foodgrid’, an attempt at minimizing the distance between farm and table by building a social and commercial platform to connect urban farmers, landowners with green space, and consumers won the third place. (India Science Wire)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Home Ministry convenes emergency meeting amid rising security concerns after Pahalgam terror attack

After the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, the Home Ministry convened a high-level meeting in Delhi as intense security operations unfold across Jammu and Kashmir.

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Amid heightened security concerns following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, the Ministry of Home Affairs convened a high-level meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Key officials attending the meeting include Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director Generals of the Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles, and the National Security Guard (NSG), along with senior representatives from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Meanwhile, extensive counter-terrorism operations are ongoing at multiple locations across Jammu and Kashmir. Sources familiar with the matter noted that, due to the sensitive nature of these operations, no specific updates are currently being disclosed.

In a related development on Monday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted raids at 13 locations in the Doda district, targeting terrorist hideouts and individuals suspected of links to terrorist activities.

Additionally, Srinagar Police carried out a series of extensive searches across the city. These operations focused on the residences of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and associates linked to banned terrorist outfits, as part of ongoing investigations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

According to a police statement, searches were conducted at the homes of 63 individuals. These operations were executed in accordance with legal procedures, under the supervision of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses, aiming to collect evidence such as weapons, documents, and digital devices to thwart any potential conspiracies threatening national security.

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Family Man 3 actor Rohit Basfore found dead near Guwahati waterfall

Actor Rohit Basfore, part of Family Man 3, was found dead at Garbhanga Waterfalls. Initial police reports cite accidental drowning, but further investigation is ongoing.

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In a tragic turn of events, actor Rohit Basfore, known for his role in the upcoming third season of The Family Man, was found dead near the Garbhanga Waterfalls in Guwahati on Sunday, April 27. The incident has sent shockwaves through the entertainment community and among fans.

According to police reports, Basfore had gone on a picnic with nine colleagues when the mishap occurred. Officials from Rani Police Outpost stated that he allegedly fell into the waterfall around 2 pm. The authorities were alerted by 4 pm, and a rescue operation led by the SDRF team resulted in the recovery of his body at approximately 6.30 pm.

Initial findings suggest that Basfore died by accidental drowning, with the police currently not suspecting foul play. However, the final confirmation on the cause of death will depend on the awaited post-mortem report. Despite the preliminary conclusions, Basfore’s family members have voiced concerns over possible foul play, prompting further investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

In recent weeks, Rohit Basfore had shared glimpses from the set of Family Man 3 on his social media, expressing excitement about his experience. He posted photographs alongside co-actors Jaideep Ahlawat and Dalip Tahil, reflecting on his enthusiasm for learning and acting.

The Family Man series, a creation by Raj & DK for a leading OTT platform, stars Manoj Bajpayee in the lead role of Srikant Tiwari. The popular thriller debuted its first season in 2019, followed by a second season in 2021, and has gained a loyal fanbase awaiting its third chapter.

As the investigation continues, friends, fans, and colleagues mourn the untimely loss of a budding talent whose career was just beginning to blossom.

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PM Modi to chair crucial security meeting after Pahalgam attack

PM Modi will chair crucial security and cabinet meetings tomorrow to assess national preparedness after the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead in Jammu and Kashmir.

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PM Modi

In the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead a series of crucial meetings tomorrow to review India’s security preparedness.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the nation’s apex body for national security decisions, is scheduled to convene around 11 am. This will be the second high-level review since the tragic incident in Jammu and Kashmir.

Following the CCS meeting, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by the Prime Minister, will also gather to discuss political and strategic issues. Senior leaders, including Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Health Minister JP Nadda, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will participate in the deliberations.

Later, the Cabinet’s Economic Affairs Committee will meet, culminating in a full cabinet session.

During the previous CCS meeting, held two days after the attack, the government placed security forces across the country on heightened alert and vowed strict action against those responsible. Measures taken included suspending the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, halting SAARC visas, closing the Wagah-Attari border, and downgrading diplomatic ties with Islamabad.

Additionally, Pakistani nationals residing in India were asked to return to their country, with a slight extension given to those holding medical visas until Tuesday. In retaliation, Pakistan announced the suspension of all bilateral agreements with India, including the historic Simla Agreement.

As tensions between the two countries escalate, tomorrow’s meetings are expected to chart the next course of action amid rising security concerns.

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