Infested crop can be identified using artificial intelligence: Agri varsity VC
The Department of Nematodes of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) and All India Coordinated Research Project on Nematodes conducted a 10-day joint training programme on the importance of nematodes in agriculture -- sampling, survey, extraction, identification and diagnosis of nematode disease.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, BR Kamboj, was the chief guest at the short training programme organised at the Directorate of Human Resource Management in the university on Saturday. Twenty-three scientists from 16 states of the country, including Manipur, Kerala, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana, participated in this training programme.
Vice-Chancellor urged the nematode scientists to use the techniques which will help in creating new projects for nematode management in future. “To prevent damage to plants from nematodes, crop rotation, soil management, use of resistant varieties, neem oil in biological control and nematicides in chemical control can be used to control nematode,” he said.
The VC said that nematode-infested crops could be identified with artificial intelligence. “By proper use of resources and nematicides with artificial intelligence, not only nematode management but also soil can be saved from harmful chemicals. The problem of climate change, diversity in cropping pattern, exchange of plant material is increasing the problem of nematodes in Haryana as well as in different parts of the country. Trained human resources and other facilities are required to deal with this problem,” he said. The department has been organising Nematode Awareness Day regularly to make farmers aware of nematode problems. The Vice Chancellor distributed certificates to all the participants.
Training Coordinator Gautam Chawla explained in detail the importance of different techniques taught during the training. Research Director Rajbir Garg gave information on nematode management.
