A two-day training program on GPS instrument handling and operation was held in Lucknow to educate participants on capturing treadle pump locations for smallholder farmers. Fifty-four participants learned about GPS features, practical applications, and conducted a field exercise to gather data. The training concluded with demonstrations, a Q&A session, and a commitment to effectively utilize the knowledge in future operations.

1. GPS Training
21st& 22nd May 2012
Lucknow
In IDEI’s consistent endeavour of creating awareness of treadle pump & biodynamic manure amongst smallholder farmers it adopted GPS way of capturing treadle Pump location in field and to ensure proper capturing of data by staff it organized two days training programme at Kamakshi Palace Lucknow on the topic ‘’GPS instrument handling, operation and maintenance’’.
On total 54 participants were trained for operating GPS instrument out of which 27 participants joined the training on first day and 27 on second day.
CGM Pawan Kumar Singh inaugurated the training session & welcomed all staff. He shared agenda of the training and asked participants to add points further. He also mentioned about GPS instrument as an instrument which captures the object’s location, area and navigates object’s position by receiving information through GPS Satellites.
Rajat Pendharkar, CCO- discussed in details about features of GPS, it’s buttons, uses and benefits like locating an object and then determining its basic position by creating map of the same and calculate the area captured. GPS device were disseminated to all participant to operate the same in class. Twice mock exercises were done to ensure proper understanding of GPS operation.
Niraj Mallick from Garmin Ltd- discussed on manner of inserting battery, checking battery power, zooming in and out button, back keys, thumb stick for moving left right, up and down in display screen and scrolling menu key to get the options for desired function.
All participants went to field to practically feed treadle pump data in field. In field punch plate number and farmer name was allotted for marking way point and participants were asked to capture & calculate particular pump map & area in allotted GPS instrument.
CGM Pawan sharing GPS instrument uses
Rajat from CCO mitigating participant’s queries
Niraj Garmin Ltd, clarifying participants doubts in group session

2. In next, group exercise all AM’s with their business Associates were allotted a task for capturing treadle pump location, map and area. After exercise collected information were checked by Rajat.
Area Manager & Office Co-ordinator were trained for retrieving data from GPS device.
Highlights-
Preferably, in an open field Power key should be pressed for 1 or 2 seconds for better signal receiving in case, if, the device does not catch signal then restart it. As the device gets started, it displays the satellite page. For capturing object minimum 4 satellites strong grey bars should be exhibited on screen with 3 metre distance.
All BA’s were asked to write function of GPS from inserting battery in device to calculating area of TP.
Precautions-
Always, start the device in open area.
Under the water, high rise building, tunnels, under elevated, or near high voltage area positioning is difficult by GPS.
Before starting area calculation current track should be deleted before tracking next track by going into track manager.
Waypoint should be saved with punch plate numbers.
GPS system if not required then switches it off because it consumes a lot of battery.
Batteries get charged in about 4 hours and charger turned light from red to green.
Question & answer session-
CGM Sir asked participants to demonstrate steps of capturing location of pump and area calculation.
Each participant demonstrated complete method of operating GPS system
Rajat told the Terminologies which are as follows-
Waypoint- used to mark location of treadle pump & filling data like punch plate number, farmer’s name & address.
Track- a line of travel
Area calculation- to calculate area of the field irrigated by TP
Way point manager- to find saved TP location if necessary edit way point

3. Track manager- it manages & find saved tracks/area. If necessary edit areas.
At the end CGM Sir thanks all participants for their active participation and shared his hope that the training knowledge will continue to disseminate to new joinee as well and Treadle Pump data will be correctly captured by GPS instrument in field.