Minister inaugurates international conference on geospatial innovation in Srinagar

Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Cooperatives Javid Ahmad Dar on Wednesday inaugurated the international conference on “Mapping the Future of Sustainable Landscapes: Geospatial Innovation for People, Places and Practices” at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) in Srinagar.

The two-day conference, organised by IUST in collaboration with the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), brings together global experts, academicians and policymakers to discuss the role of geospatial technologies in advancing sustainable development.

In his inaugural address, the minister said the conference held great relevance for the agriculture and horticulture sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, where geospatial innovations could help improve productivity, resource management and ecosystem conservation.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to sustainable and technology-driven development, emphasising that science, innovation and community participation must work in tandem to address emerging environmental challenges.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, in his address, highlighted IUST’s contributions to geospatial research and innovation. He announced the establishment of a new incubator to develop a student-led “Kashmir Satellite” under the National 75 Student Satellite Mission.

The conference featured plenary sessions, technical presentations and expert interactions focused on leveraging geospatial innovation for sustainability, resilience and smart governance.