1. Scope. Scope of the project encompasses conception and development of different satellite based indices for mapping and monitoring of crops. Strengthening of the food security scenarios analysis and agriculture trade

2. Overall Objectives. Objective of the project is to ensure regional food security scenarios in ISNET member states and their capacity building for effective utilization of satellite technology in agriculture and other allied sectors.

3. Technical Description.

The methodology involves analysis of temporal and spatial variability of vegetation responses in relation to amplitude and a pattern of radioactive responses. Individuality of deferent vegetation crops provide unique pattern and time phasing in the observed data. Such variations are helpful in retrieving information on surface cover mainly the agricultural crops. Time series moderate resolution satellite data are being integrated with high resolution satellite images through a data fusion technique. Thus the approach utilizes maximum temporal dynamics in frequent moderate resolution data and together with improved special accuracy as provided by the high resolution data. Workflow of the proposed work shall comprise following components: -

1. Acquisition of the satellite images covering appropriate period.
2. Crop area estimation and yield forecasting.
3. In-season crops health assessment and early warning system
4. Satellite based crop monitoring bulletins
5. Land Degradation and its Impact on agricultural production
6. Building of spectral indices related to the crop phenology and crop calendar (NDBI, UI, NDVI, NDWI, EBBI and etc)
7. Ground data collection surveys
8. Preparation of final reports and scientific papers
9. Capacity building

1. Reliable crop forecasts and estimates will help better decision making for timely management of regional food security
2. Trade of the agriculture commodities will be managed effectively using early crop forecasts and estimates.
3. Integration of reliable estimates, beginning/ending stocks and pricing mechanisms will drive the import/export decisions.
4. Crop masks facilitate to understand seasonality patterns of the crops, crop size and market dynamics of various agricultural commodities.
5. Monitoring the impact of climate changes particularly floods, droughts, natural hazards and other extreme events.
6. Early warning related to crop stresses to opt timely policy and management decisions
7. Capacity building of the member countries in use of Remote Sensing and GIS for agriculture monitoring and use of modern data dissemination techniques.