The Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ICAR-IISWC), Dehradun has organized a training on Application of AI and ML in Natural Resources Management (NRM) to scientists of the Institute and other NRM institutes of ICAR during 3rd to 7th Oct. 2023 for 5 days.

In the training program various aspects of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI & ML) with reference to NRM and agricultural research was focused and scientists were shared with rich experience of domine specific experts. Both practical/hands-on Sessons and theory session were well covered.

Dr M Madhu, Director, IISWC in his concluding remarks he specified the usefulness of the training and he called for the application of the gained knowledge and experience in the research and development, besides to establish productive collaboration and networking for expanded research and outcomes.

Er SS Shrimali, the Course Director reported that the program was well received both by the resource persons and the trainee scientists for their mutual benefits and further collaboration possibilities. He appreciated the resource persons and the level of knowledge shared and transpired in the training.

Dr M Muruganandam, Principal Scientist and Head (PME & KM Unit) one of the course Co-Directors informed that the training has identified diverse resource persons, opportunities for collaboration, updated the skills, and provided the opportunity to expand facilities and resources on AI ML at the Institute.

During the concluding sessions resource persons, Dr Naveen Pandey of DSVV, Haridwar and Dr Varun Singh of MNIT, Prayagraj, U.P. spoke on their experience of the training and proposed for continued collaboration and research work on the area of the training.

Convener of the training Dr Bankey Bihari, OIC (HRMS), spoke on the unique features of the training. Co-Course Director Dr Sadikul Islam IISWC sent an appreciation on the success.

The program was inaugurated Dr Ajay Sharma, VC of MBM University, the Chief Guest of the on 3rd Oct. 2023. Prof Abhay Saxena, Dean School of TCM, DSVV, Haridwar is the master trainer of the program and spoke on the whole range of the topics and hands-on practical sessions included in the program. Dr Kamal Pandey ISRO-IIRS, Prof Ashutosh K. Bhatt Associate Professor UoU, Haldwani, Dr Amit Ramesh Khaparde Assistant Professor G B Pant DSEU Okhla, New Delhi, Dr Vaibhav Kumar Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Dr Chandrashekhar Patel Assistant Professor Amity University, Jaipur, Rajasthan and few more were the resource persons in the training.

About 30 scientists and technical persons from different centers of the institute and other ICAR institutes with the expertise on 12 different agricultural sciences benefitted from the training. At the end, the participants appreciated the content and knowledge gained in the training during a feedback session.