Application of Geospatial Technologies for Agriculture

Abstract

Geographical Information System (GIS) has long been valued for enhancing communication and collaboration in decision-making, effectively managing resources and assets, enhancing the efficiency of workflows, and improving the accessibility of information. Research farm management in agricultural experimental stations requires effective use of geographical information of farm layout, field boundaries, and location of buildings, roads, irrigation channels, wells and electric lines together with information facilities like farm machinery, livestock and the planned crop field experiments. The field experiment data include details of crop and variety information, field preparation and input applications. Record keeping about all such information is laborious, time consuming and cumbersome process. It also becomes difficult to keep those records over time, when evaluating the effectiveness of changes in management plans. Advances in information technology allow agricultural experimental farms to acquire large amounts of farm data more efficiently. Geospatial technologies enhance the efficacy incorporating traditional IT information management tools for farm management. This study presents the design and application of a web based Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) for experimental farm management using open source GIS. Further, a GIS based decision support system (DSS) for Supply Chain Management in Dairy Sector is developed through various analyses viz., demographic analysis, competitor analysis