LUDHIANA: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), Ludhiana to promote scientific and academic collaboration for optimal utilization of land/water resources with the assistance of geospatial technologies, for sustainable development of livestock and fisheries sectors in the region.
Dr. Meera D. Ansal, Dean College of Fisheries said that MoU will help in generating timeline/realistic database involving ecological mapping of land and aquatic resources for assessment of temporal and spatial changes related to seasons, climate change, disease breakouts, pollution, land use, land cover, siltation, biological (floral/faunal) characteristics etc., for required management/conservation interventions. Further, it will facilitate mutual exchange of scientific database/information; capacity building of faculty and student capacity; joint seminars for scientific deliberations/action plans; and collaborative research projects for monitoring and judicious use of land, water resources in fisheries and different livestock farming systems, she added.
Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor, GADVASU emphasized that geospatial artificial intelligence is essentially required to curtail climate change impacts, disease outbreaks, illegal anthropogenic activities and environment damages.
Dr. JPS Gill, Director of Research informed that aquatic resources are sensitive ecosystems, being natural sinks to runoff from catchment areas and hence, need to protect from anthropogenic/industrial activities to harness their actual biological output in a sustainable manner. Remote sensing, GIS and GPS technologies will help in accurate ecological mapping of aquatic resources for development of the fisheries sector, he added.
Dr. Brijendra Pateriya, Director of PRSC expressed that the said MoU will add qualitative and quantitative value to the ongoing research programs in GADVASU and PRSC, for better understanding of emerging challenges and threats.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Pateriya and Dr. J PS Gill in the presence of Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor and scientific teams from College of Fisheries, GADVASU and PRSC, Ludhiana.