Rourkela: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Tea Board India to undertake collaborative research on AI-driven geospatial technologies for tea plantation monitoring.
The MoU was signed at the Regional Remote Sensing Centre (RRSC-East), NRSC, Kolkata, on August 27 under the Advanced Research and Development project titled “CHAYANKAN: Comprehensive AI-based Geospatial Data Analytics for Tea Plantation Monitoring.” The three-year project, which commenced in April 2026, focuses on developing advanced geospatial and artificial intelligence-based solutions for tea plantation mapping, yield estimation, and pest and disease forecasting.
The project will combine satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing data with ground observations using advanced machine learning and modelling techniques. It aims to strengthen scientific monitoring of tea plantations and support evidence-based decision-making for the tea sector.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended virtually by NRSC Director Dr. Prakash Chauhan and NIT Rourkela Director Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, while Tea Board India Director (Tea Development) S. Soundararajan participated in person. Dr. Arindam Guha, Deputy General Manager, RRSC-East, welcomed the dignitaries.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Sushil Kumar Srivastav, Associate Director and Chief General Manager (Regional Centres), NRSC, ISRO; Dr. Amrita Chakraborty, Secretary, Tea Board India; and Prof. Saurav Chatterjee, Dean (SRICCE), NIT Rourkela, who signed virtually on behalf of the institute.
Senior officials and scientists from the three organisations attended the programme. A presentation on the CHAYANKAN project was delivered by Dr. Arati Paul, Principal Investigator from RRSC-East, along with Co-Principal Investigators Dr. Anima Biswal, J. Nalini, and Dr. Anup Nandy of NIT Rourkela.
Speaking on the occasion, the dignitaries highlighted the significance of leveraging geospatial technologies, remote sensing and artificial intelligence to improve the scientific management of tea plantations. They said the initiative would enhance the assessment of plantation health and productivity while enabling timely forecasting of pest and disease outbreaks.
The collaboration marks a significant step towards strengthening research partnerships among NIT Rourkela, ISRO and Tea Board India, while promoting the use of advanced digital technologies to address emerging challenges in the country’s tea industry.
