Mapping Indian farms with satellite imagery to build sustainable agriculture

Satellite imagery shows how the Earth’s surface looks from above. It depicts the Earth’s surface at various spectral, temporal, radiometric, and increasingly detailed spatial resolutions, as is determined by each collection system’s sensing device and the orbital path of its reconnaissance platform. Satellites and the images they provide differ because they are used for different reasons by different companies. Satellite data is a compilation of millions of pixels that correspond to Earth distances. The result is a series of photos with varying resolutions and periods.

A pixel can represent an area ranging from 10 m to 1 sq. km or even more significant. The technology is constantly evolving, and it will soon be feasible to produce photos with less than a square centimetre resolution. Modern satellites, like Sentinel 2 and Landsat, orbit the Earth every 5 and 16 days respectively, so the data must be measured in terms of time. It means that every two weeks, changes can be evaluated. Other satellite-based information products are only provided on an annual basis.

Satellite imagery and agriculture

What world will we be leaving for future generations if we don’t improve our crop-farming practices? Intensive agriculture has already proven to be both inefficient and unsustainable. Nor is it effective for handling the looming global food crisis.

Furthermore, “conventional” farming methods, which negatively influence the environment, fail farmers, requiring them to adopt new practices. Growers collaborate with scientists to find innovative ways to farm that are economically, environmentally, and socially beneficial. Precision agriculture techniques address a variety of financial and environmental issues.

Modern agriculture must strike a balance between profit and long-term viability, not to mention the impending worldwide food shortage. The United Nations has estimated that the global population will reach 9.8 billion people by 2050. Crop demand will increase as a result. Is it possible to achieve it unless farmers adjust their farming practices now to protect natural systems and resources? Hardly. Fertile lands are finite resources. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, over 40% of the total world’s land is utilized for food production. Hence, it is not the size of the fields that matter but how we treat them.

Agriculture that is sustainable invites us to think outside the box. Technologies are already providing powerful tools to assist producers in optimizing their operations. The ones that employ remote sensing and GIS are the most popular because they open up many possibilities. Unfortunately, many of them, such as vegetation indicators analysis, is still overlooked.

Ways in which satellite imagery helps to build sustainability in Agriculture

Achieving sustainability: Today, sustainable resource management is a must. Remote sensing satellites are helping farms utilize water more sustainably. Satellite data aids in the avoidance of over or under-irrigation, the improvement of agricultural product quality, and the enhancement of yields. Farmers are able to monitor big regions, analyze the state of the soil, and more correctly determine the need for water since they can monitor large areas. Farmers can use satellite imagery analysis to build and improve their irrigation plans.
Encouragement of enhanced climate resilience: Crops can be severely harmed by extreme weather conditions. Farmers can be aware of potential hazards to plants, such as drought, floods, and other weather disasters, using satellite imagery and taking prompt action to safeguard crops. Satellite images will aid in planning preventative measures and reducing weather’s impact on crop health. Farmers may enhance climate change resilience in their farming operations in this way.
Satellite-based crop monitoring: Farmers and other agribusiness participants, such as auditors, can considerably improve their crop monitoring capabilities by employing satellite photography. Auditors are able to estimate the actual value of the land using photos. Farmers can make better judgments during the growing season thanks to satellite-based crop monitoring. Growers also have access to historical satellite imagery, which allows them to understand climate patterns and plan field actions for increased yield. Considering the information gathered previously will enable farmers to develop historical maps of their fields, allowing them to identify which approaches are the most efficient.
Powering precision agriculture practices: Precision farming leads to resource efficiency and rationality. Furthermore, this method results in considerable savings in seeds, fertilizers, water, and pesticides, boosting farm output. You can monitor soil conditions, manage water supplies, and get correct fertilization information by combining satellite imaging with other cutting-edge technology like IoT and drones. Satellite images can also aid in improving planting function when used in conjunction with agricultural robots.
Fortifying farm planning: Satellite pictures can be used to monitor, control, and manage the state of crops and soil, as well as to protect crops from diseases, pests, and other hazards. Stress, soil moisture, and nutrient saturation can be detected by combining satellite data with other technologies. Businesses may produce more precise yield estimations and enhance their purchase and storage arrangements this way. Insurance agents and organizations can utilize the information to assess future crop conditions better.

Benefits of the Sat2Farm app in building sustainable agriculture

Soil Moisture Map (SMM): You can examine the moisture content of your farm’s soil on a map here. This will allow you to identify parts of your farm that are experiencing water stress, as well as locations where you should focus your irrigation efforts.

2. Soil Health: You can get soil test reports instantly through the Sat2Farm app without having to travel miles and it is globally accessible. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are among the major soil nutrients that can be estimated with Sat2Farm. You can also find out how much soil organic carbon is in the soil (SOC) along with soil pH.

3. Crop health: It may be possible to efficiently monitor disease development using the Sat2Farm mobile app, particularly in early stages when it is difficult to detect disease in the field. A crop-specific advisory option based on image analysis can also be provided for pests and diseases specific to a particular crop.

4. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI): This is a map that shows you the crop health variability of your farm’s crops. This feature is beneficial to you since it allows you to take remedial action early on to avoid bad outcomes such as stunted growth and low yields caused by sick farm crops.

5. Rainfall Data: Rainfall data will be available for 14 days and will be updated daily. You can better plan your farm activities now that you have this information. By sun-drying your farm food, you’ll know exactly when to sow, harvest, or store it without any hassle.