Mobile Application for Geo Tagging: PMKSY

Why in News

Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched a mobile application for geo-tagging of the components of projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).

Key Points

• Developed By: The mobile application has been developed with the help of Bhaskaracharya National Institute of Space Applications & Geo-informatics (BISAG-N).
  
  • BISAG-N is an autonomous scientific society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It comes under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• Objective: To track the pace of work and actual status of the projects.
  
  • The mobile application can be used to capture the image of the project component along with other details such as location, type of canal/ structure, completion status, etc.
  • The captured information can be submitted by the user for geo-tagging on the geographic information system (GIS) portal developed for this purpose.
    • Geo-tagging is the process of adding geographical identification data to various media such as websites, SMS messages, QR Codes.
      
      • This data usually consists of latitude and longitude coordinates. It can also include altitude, bearing, distance, accuracy data, and place names, and perhaps a time stamp.
    • A GIS is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing geography related data.
• Operation: The mobile application can be operated in both online & offline mode depending on the network availability in the region.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana

• PMKSY is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2015 with the motto of "Har Khet Ko Paani".
• Objectives:
  
  • PMKSY is being implemented to expand cultivated areas with assured irrigation, reduce wastage of water and improve water use efficiency i.e. Per drop-More crop.
  • It also focuses on creating protective irrigation by harnessing rainwater at micro level through "Jal Sanchay" and "Jal Sinchan".
    
    • Protective irrigation includes:
      
      • Protection of the crops from adverse effects of soil moisture deficiency.
      • Irrigation, which acts as a supplementary source of water over and above rainfall.
      • Providing soil moisture to maximum possible area.
  • Convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level.
  • To enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices by exploring the feasibility of reusing treated municipal based water for peri-urban agriculture and attract greater private investment in a precision irrigation system.
    
    • An aquifer is a body of porous rock or sediment saturated with groundwater. Groundwater enters an aquifer as precipitation seeps through the soil. It can move through the aquifer and resurface through springs and wells.
    • Peri-urban agriculture refers to farm units close to town which operate intensive semi- or fully commercial farms to grow vegetables and other horticulture, raise chickens and other livestock, and produce milk and eggs.
    • Precision Irrigation is an innovative technique that uses water wisely and helps farmers achieve higher levels of crop yield in a minimal amount of water.
• Formulation: It was formulated by amalgamating following schemes:
  
  • Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) - Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti).
  • Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) - Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.
  • On-Farm Water Management (OFWM) - Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC).
• Implementation: Decentralised implementation through State Irrigation Plan and District Irrigation Plan.

Source: PIB