**Policy Summary: Space Technology Integration in Agriculture**
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is leveraging space technology to enhance agricultural practices across India. Key initiatives include the FASAL project, which forecasts crop production for major crops like rice, wheat, and sugarcane using space, agrometeorology, and land-based observations. A geoportal developed in collaboration with SAC ISRO, Ahmedabad, is used for drought monitoring, providing data on rainfall, soil moisture, crop condition, and water storage.
Space technology supports the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) through smart sampling for Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs), yield estimation, dispute resolution, and area and yield assessment. The Krishi Decision Support System (KrishiDSS), a cloud-based geospatial platform, integrates weather data, satellite imagery, soil layers, water-related data, and field information to support agricultural management and decision-making.
Pilot studies conducted between 2019 and 2023 utilized satellites, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), simulation models, and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) techniques to estimate yields at the Gram Panchayat (GP) level. Based on these studies, technology-based GP-level yield estimation has been implemented for paddy and wheat crops from Kharif 2023 and soybean crop from Kharif 2024 under the YESTECH (Yield Estimation System using Technology) initiative of PMFBY. This aims to ensure timely and transparent claim settlement for farmers.
This information was provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare: The Indian governmental ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare. It is the primary entity utilizing space technology in the described projects.
FASAL project: A project by the Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare that uses Space, Agrometeorology, and Land-based observations to forecast agricultural output.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): A government-sponsored crop insurance scheme that utilizes space technology for support.
SAC ISRO, Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, collaborating on the Drought Monitoring Geoportal.
Krishi Decision Support System (KrishiDSS): A cloud-based Geospatial platform developed by the government that leverages space technology to empower stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
Gram Panchayat (GP): A local self-government organization at the village or small town level in India. Pilot studies use space technology to derive yield estimates at this level.
YESTECH Yield Estimation System using Technology: An initiative of PMFBY for timely and transparent claim settlement to farmers, utilizing technology for GP level yield estimation.
Shri Ramnath Thakur: Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, who provided the information in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
SPACE TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE
Posted On: 01 AUG 2025 4:35PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare is using space technology for the various activities which include
FASAL project (Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro-meteorology and Land based
observations), Drought Monitoring and providing technological support to Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
(PMFBY).
Under FASAL project, crop production forecasting for major crops namely rice, wheat, tur, rapeseed &
mustard, rabi, jowar, cotton, jute, sugarcane, soybean, lentil & gram are being carried out.
For the Drought Monitoring, Department has developed a Geoportal in collaboration with SAC (ISRO),
Ahmedabad. The portal hosts data of multiple drought indicators related to rainfall, soil moisture, remote
sensing-based crop condition, water storages, etc.
Space technology is also being used for various operational applications under PMFBY, such as Smart
Sampling for Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs), yield estimation & dispute resolution (area and yield).
Further, government has developed a Krishi Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS) which is a cloud based
Geo-spatial platform that leverages space technology to empower various stakeholders in the agriculture
sector. Krishi-DSS platform hosts a variety of datasets, including weather data, Satellite images, Soil layers,
Water related data and field information. Krishi-DSS offers variety of modules/algorithms to support
agricultural management and decision-making.
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has conducted pilot studies using space technology for yield
estimation by engaging various Government and Private Agencies between 2019-23. Various technologies
viz., Satellite, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Simulation models, and Artificial Intelligence/Machine
Learning (AI/ML) techniques were used in the study to derive the yield estimates at Gram Panchayat (GP)
level. Based on the finding of pilot studies, Technology based GP level yield estimation had been rolled out
for paddy & wheat crop from kharif 2023 and soybean crop from kharif 2024 under the YESTECH (Yield
Estimation System using Technology) initiative of PMFBY for the timely and transparent claim settlement to
the farmers.
This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, shri Shri Ramnath
Thakur in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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RC/ KSR/AR
(Release ID: 2151356)