Agriculture University and Dept. sign pact for Geospatial Technology-Based Services :

1. Geoinformatics centre to provide expertise in harnessing geo-spatial technologies for Govt schemes. Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University and State Department of Agriculture have signed Memorandum of Understanding on Geospatial Technology-Based Services.

2. Under the MoU Centre for Geoinformatics Research and Training (CGRT) in the University will provide its expertise in harnessing geo-spatial technologies in various on-going schemes like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna (PMKSY), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, RAFTAAR etc. through geotagging of assets created since the launch of PMKSY program. The geographic location of non-movable assets like infrastructure shall be taken on priority basis to access the first-hand information of such assets.

3.The geotagged assets shall be made available to the public over Bhuvan portal developed by National Remote Sensing Centre (ISRO), Hyderabad for meeting the national objectives of the schemes and connecting agriculture with e-governance for digital India initiative of Govt. of India.

4. CGRT also has the expertise to disseminate the results through Web GIS Portal for dynamic accessibility of outputs by the stakeholders. The CGRT and Department of Agriculture have a history of cooperation in the production and support of various GIS services provided in the form of digital map data starting from dynamic Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ) to Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Information Files (HASIF). Initially, the MOU has been signed for the period of five years.

About Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University :

Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, also known as CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University (CSK HPKV), formerly Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, is an agricultural university at Palampur in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It was established on 1 November 1978 as an expansion of the existing College of Agriculture established in May 1966. Hill agriculture is the focus of this university. The university is accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Capital works investments for the university's land and facilities were provided by state government grants, and grants from the ICAR. In the 2004-05 academic year, approximately 63% of CSK HPKV's annual operating expenditure was funded by HP state government grants, and a further 29% covered by ICAR grants. The remaining funding came from fees collected and other sources.