Islamabad, May 8 (INP); With the aim of promoting the latest trends in agriculture to enhance productivity, the Pakistan China Joint Lab for Artificial Intelligence and Smart Agriculture (AI&SA) has been established at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). UAF Vice-Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan and CEO CAS Cogniser Dr Wu Jun jointly inaugurated the lab, while guests including Project Director National Aerospace Science and Technology Park Tauseef-ur-Rehman, DG Pakistan Meteorological Department Sahibzada Khan, Dean Faculty of Sciences Dr. Ijaz Ahmad Bhatti, Director Center for Advanced Studies Dr Sultan Habibullah, Progressive farmer Mushtaq Gill, In-charge Precision Agriculture Lab CAS UAF Dr. Saqib Ali were present in the inaugural ceremony. International Seminar on Artificial Intelligence and Smart Agriculture was also organized by the Precision Agriculture Lab, Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday.

“We can increase production and minimize the cost of production by promoting data science, drone technology and other smart agriculture technology in the sector.” Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor UAF noted at an address.  He added that in 25,000 villages in Punjab, if drone technology for spraying is introduced on rent, it will help raise the productivity, lower the cost of production and bring health benefit for the farming community. Dr Wu Jun emphasized that while conducting advanced research in the laboratory, measures will also be taken to popularize advanced practical technologies among local farmers in order to reform and upgrade local agriculture.  “To pioneer a future where AI-driven innovations revolutionize agriculture, the three partners, UAF, Guangzhou Institute of Software Application Technology, as well as Guangzhou CAS Cogniser Information Technology Co., Ltd will work jointly on capacity building, faculty and staff development programs, such as exchange students, faculty members and staff, collaborative research projects and organize joint symposia, seminars, workshops and conference.”

As for the field of study, Dr. Wu introduced that it will mainly involve high throughput plant phenotyping, crop health monitoring, intelligent crop yield mapping and crop water requirement analyses with Al and Imagery.  “As is well-known that the University of Agriculture Faisalabad is the best agricultural university in Pakistan. I firmly believe that the research in the laboratory will bring a brighter future for Pakistan’s agriculture.” Sahibzada Khan introduced that an agri-tech mobile app called Kissan Weather has been launched and all possible steps are being taken to promote it in the farming community so that as many farmers as possible can master the technology. Addressing the seminar, Dr Saqib Ali highlighted that the best steps are being taken for smart agriculture in the Precision Agriculture Lab of UAF, by which the farmer can realize the dream of prosperity.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China