Gangtok, Sept 27: The Sikkim Agriculture Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MOA&FW), Government of India, organized a one-day national conference on Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) at SAMETI, Tadong.

Jigmee Dorjee Bhutia, Secretary of Agriculture Department, chaired the conference, accompanied by Mrs. Ruchika Gupta, Advisor-MOA&FW, and Ms. Sonia Sharma, Additional Statistical Advisor-MOA&FW.

The event aimed to digitalize the web portal and mobile application for crop cutting, addressing field operation challenges and introducing new methods.

Bhutia emphasized the significance of digital tools in crop estimation, improving data collection and analysis efficiency. He highlighted Sikkim’s Integrated Crop Survey (ICS) as the foundation for future census data.

Rachna Gurung, Additional Director of Agriculture Census, discussed the DGCES system’s importance and relevance in the modern agricultural framework, particularly for North Eastern states.

Gupta briefed participants on the DGCES system’s functionalities and benefits, ensuring accurate and timely crop data.

Technical sessions on web portal and mobile application training were conducted by Sonia Sharma and Biju Babu Raj.

The conference concluded with an interaction session, where attendees shared thoughts on DGCES implementation and its potential benefits for Sikkim’s agricultural future.

The event brought together officials from the Agriculture Census, web application experts, district heads, and representatives from North Eastern states.

This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing agricultural productivity and informed decision-making in Sikkim and beyond.