Chandigarh: Haryana has achieved international recognition for its pioneering work in agriculture and environmental protection by winning the Geospatial Excellence Award at the Geospatial World Forum 2026 held in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Award-Winning Initiative
The award was conferred upon the Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC), which operates under the state's citizen resources information department. HARSAC developed a comprehensive geo-enabled ecosystem based on the 'Space to Citizen Service' concept. This initiative was designed to strengthen governance, assist farmers, and promote sustainable agricultural practices across the state.
Chief Minister's Reaction
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini congratulated the HARSAC team, describing the recognition as a proud moment for the state. He emphasized that the technologies and innovations developed by HARSAC, particularly in agriculture and crop residue management, have proven highly beneficial for farmers, government departments, and the public.
Director's Statement
HARSAC Director Sultan Singh stated that the achievement reflects the Chief Minister's visionary leadership and citizen-centric policies, which have helped Haryana emerge as a leading state in digital agriculture and geospatial innovation.
Impact and Reach
According to officials, the geo-enabled system supports over 15 lakh farmers and operates across more than one crore agricultural fields and parcels. It also caters to over 4,000 daily users, including senior officials, revenue stakeholders, patwaris, surveyors, entrepreneurs, and students.
Technological Applications
The advanced geospatial platforms developed by HARSAC are used for:
- Crop monitoring and yield assessment
- Water resource management
- Land-use planning
- Crop insurance analytics
- Climate resilience initiatives
- Crop residue management
Officials added that the agency is also mapping and monitoring water bodies, transport networks, and panchayat assets using satellite imagery, GIS dashboards, UAV surveys, and AI-enabled analytics.
International Appreciation
The international jury particularly appreciated HARSAC's scalable geospatial technology model that supports food security, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience.
