<div align="justify">In a bid to boost India's horticulture output, the Centre is relying on eyes in the sky to seek guidance on what crops should a farmer sow in his land to reap a better harvest.<br /><br />Implemented in 185 districts – mostly in Eastern and Northeastern parts of the country - Project Chaman (Coordinated Horticulture Assessment and Management) helps agriculturalists identify crops suitable for different climatic zones, a move that would help farmer increase their income.<br /><br />Under Project Chaman, the Ministry of Agriculture will use remote sensing and geoinformatics data to integrate information on weather, soil, land use and crop mapping to prepare horticulture development plans.<br /><br />The information would be further used to create horticulture hubs in various states and help them develop related infrastructure such as cold chains.<br /><br />Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the project would help in accurate forecasting of area and production of seven horticulture crops – banana, citrus, mango, potato, onion, tomato and chilli – that have been selected for the pilot phase.<br /><br />Singh said the interim reports of the project would be provided to the state governments which could be used for development of post-harvest infrastructure in the identified regions.<br /><br />“This project will be completed by March,” he said, adding that the methodology used for the seven crops would be extended to all the states.<br /><br />Singh said the ministry would extend the remote sensing technology to other horticulture crops in future.<br /><br />India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, and a top producer of crops such as banana, mango and lemons.<br /><br />In 2016-17, production of horticulture crops such as fruits, vegetables and spices touched a record high of 300 million tonnes, which was more than the output of food grains for the fifth consecutive year.</div>
<div align="justify">In a bid to boost India's horticulture output, the Centre is relying on eyes in the sky to seek guidance on what crops should a farmer sow in his land to reap a better harvest.<br /><br />Implemented in 185 districts – mostly in Eastern and Northeastern parts of the country - Project Chaman (Coordinated Horticulture Assessment and Management) helps agriculturalists identify crops suitable for different climatic zones, a move that would help farmer increase their income.<br /><br />Under Project Chaman, the Ministry of Agriculture will use remote sensing and geoinformatics data to integrate information on weather, soil, land use and crop mapping to prepare horticulture development plans.<br /><br />The information would be further used to create horticulture hubs in various states and help them develop related infrastructure such as cold chains.<br /><br />Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the project would help in accurate forecasting of area and production of seven horticulture crops – banana, citrus, mango, potato, onion, tomato and chilli – that have been selected for the pilot phase.<br /><br />Singh said the interim reports of the project would be provided to the state governments which could be used for development of post-harvest infrastructure in the identified regions.<br /><br />“This project will be completed by March,” he said, adding that the methodology used for the seven crops would be extended to all the states.<br /><br />Singh said the ministry would extend the remote sensing technology to other horticulture crops in future.<br /><br />India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, and a top producer of crops such as banana, mango and lemons.<br /><br />In 2016-17, production of horticulture crops such as fruits, vegetables and spices touched a record high of 300 million tonnes, which was more than the output of food grains for the fifth consecutive year.</div>
