Bio

Dr. A. Arunachalam, a tropical ecologist graduated from the School of Ecology at North-Eastern Hill University, India. With 22 years of teaching, research, extension experiences Dr. A. Arunachalam has published over 150 research papers, 100 book articles, several bulletins, manuals, and synthesis volumes in the field of ecology, climate science, forestry, agriculture and natural resources management. Presently, he is serving as the Principal Scientist (Forestry) in Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. Dr. Arunachalam is also a Visiting Professor at Forestry College & Research Institute (Mettupalayam) of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Faculty of Agriculture of Arunachal University of Studies, Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh; Adjunct Professor in College of Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat); Honorary Professor in the Amity School of Natural Resources & Sustainable Development, Amity University, Noida; PG Faculty in Indian Agricultural Research Institute in the Centre for Environmental Science & Climate Resilient Agriculture. Dr. Arunachalam is a recipient of Visiting Fellowship by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India to the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advances in Scientific Research, and the BOYSCAST fellowship (to the University of Massachusetts, Boston (USA).For the rich research contributions in ecology and natural resources management, Dr. A. Arunachalamhas been recognized with several awards: Dr. K.G. Tejwani Award for Management of Natural Resources, Pran Vohra Award in Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (2003-04), Environmentalist of the Year award (2008), Eminent Scientist of the Year award (2012), Award for Excellence in Research (2013), Renowned Biodiversity Science Award and Professor RamdeoMisra Best Scientist Award 2013-14.

Abstract

E-Governance vis-à-vis e-Agricult ure
Geospatial Information Technologies (GIT) are comprised of three major technologies; Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Remote Sensing (RS). It is well known that GIS is a powerful tool used for storing, displaying, and analyzing spatial data. Further, this tool is used in many applications such as: land use planning, natural resource management, global change analysis, environmental assessment and planning, precision agriculture, emergency vehicle dispatch, demographic and overpopulation research, spread of disease, utilities planning, weather forecasting, and many business applications. Geospatial technology, with its potential to address the complete life cycle of agriculture is fast finding acceptance in agriculture sector to fulfill its responsibilities in addressing food security and as a fundamental instrument for sustainable development and poverty reduction, especially in developing nations. In the process, one agriculture can remodel agriculture per se. Nonetheless, applications of geo-spatial information tools in agriculture dwells upon a few challenges, viz. smaller landholding (<0.5 ha)