NAN-AE-8
Technology
Omu-Aran (Kwara), May 8, 2017 (NAN) Dr Kolawole Soyinka of the Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD) says the adoption of remote sensing application technology will facilitate efforts to transform the nation’s agriculture sector.
Soyinka said this in a lecture he delivered to commemorate the 2017 Science Week of the College of Agricultural Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture has “Remote Sensing Application in Agriculture: Enhancing Productivity’’ as its theme.
NAN also reports that the lecture was part of a memorandum of understanding between the institution and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
Soyinka said that precision farming, through remote sensing, could play significant roles in sustainable and productive agriculture if well harnessed and managed.
He described remote sensing generally as the use of satellite or aircraft-based sensor technologies to detect classified earth objects without the user’s physical interference.
Kolawole said that the smart device had the capacity to provide maximum coverage, relevant and reliable data gathering on the farm in order to enhance effectiveness in the use of resources.
He said that the use of the remote sensing had no negative effect on either persons or the environment, adding that it rather reduced the use of chemicals in agriculture and the risks of food poison.
“The whole essence is to reduce the risks in managing variability on the farm in order to fully enhance farmers’ productivity and income,” he said.
Kolawole said that some of the advantages of remote sensing included agricultural development and empowerment of farmers to have total control over their farming environment and machines, animal care and production.
In his remark, Prof. Aize Obayan, the Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, said that the smart device was an ingenious initiative that could facilitate the fulfilment of the institution’s agricultural production plans.
She noted that the lecture confirmed the commitment and support of NASRDA for the university’s efforts to boost food security in Africa.
The vice-chancellor said that the technology would aid plans to remove drudgery from agriculture, thereby making it more attractive, especially to the youth.
She urged the students to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the science week celebration to become smart agriculture practitioners. (NAN)
ISHO/JIE/OOK
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Edited by Julius Enehikhuere and Dayo Komolafe