Maha plans to use satellite technology to determine crop yield

The Maharashtra government today said it was planning to upgrade the centuries old 'aane-wari' system of determining the crop yield by roping in the satellite imaging technology.
Accurate estimates of crop yield become crucial when the government has to provide aid to farmers in the wake of drought or other natural calamities.
Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse told reporters here after the weekly cabinet meeting that the new system will use satellite images, and will also estimate the level of ground water.
"A committee has given its report on upgrading the system. Since detailed deliberations are required, a cabinet sub-committee headed by me has been constituted to study it. We will submit our views to cabinet within fifteen days," Khadse said.

About the drought situation in Maharashtra, Khadse said 69 tehsils in Beed, Osmanabad, Latur, Jalna and Parbhani districts of Marathwada; Sangli, Solapur, Ahmednagar in western Maharashtra and Nashik and Jalgaon in north Maharashtra were facing drought.
The government had authorised the district administration to start drinking water supply by tankers, set up fodder camps and provide employment under EGS and MGNREGA, he said.
If grape, guava and pomegranate cultivations were affected by lack of rains, the government will give 50 per cent subsidy for resowing, he said.
The forest department had been asked not to auction the fodder collected from forests, the Minister said, adding that about 800 applications for starting fodder camps had been received and were being scrutinised.