May 17, 2025 4:18 PM.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is scheduled to visit Maharashtra’s Nagpur tomorrow, to chair a high-level stakeholder consultation on Viksit Krishi and review key agricultural and rural development schemes of Nagpur.
During the visit, the Minister will inaugurate the National Soil Spectral Library.
Mr. Chouhan will also launch an artificial intelligence-based smart trap for pink bollworm. Progressive farmers from the region will be felicitated during the event in recognition of their innovative contributions to agriculture.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be present at the occasion. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will also attend the meeting, according to a Ministry of Agriculture statement.
During the visit, the Union Minister will inaugurate the National Soil Spectral Library (NSSL) – a pioneering initiative in digital agriculture, developed collaboratively by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR)-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur; the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal; and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.
This initiative is part of the Network Programme on Precision Agriculture, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The minister will also launch an AI-based Smart Trap for Pink Bollworm, a major pest affecting cotton crops.
This technology, developed by the ICAR-Central Institute of Cotton Research, Nagpur, leverages advanced machine learning algorithms for precision pest control. Progressive farmers from the region will also be felicitated during the event in recognition of their innovative contributions to agriculture.
According to the ministry, the establishment of the National Soil Spectral Library marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards digital agriculture. The library will facilitate a contactless, rapid, and cost-effective method of soil analysis, replacing the conventional wet chemistry-based testing.
The soil spectral data, representing diverse agro-climatic zones of India, will be formally dedicated to the nation by the Union Minister.