Remote sensing crop mapping training

Tunis, FAO is conducting a training course on remote sensing and crop mapping in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture of Hydraulic Resources and Fisheries. This activity consolidates the strengthening of national skills for optimal exploitation of geo-spatial technologies in agricultural development. It is part of the project on Productivity and Sustainability of Water in the Near East North Africa Region and is part of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, including of Sustainable Development Goal 6 relating to the efficiency and productivity of water. This project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and implemented in partnership with the League of Arab States, ICARDA, UNESCO, the Stockholm Institute for the Environment (SEI), the Stockholm Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and the University of Cordoba.

Important work on crop mapping has already started in Tunisia in April 2016. This work focused on the application in Tunisia of methods to improve the reliability of calibration and ground validation of information gathered through remote sensing. It also identified the types of crops to be mapped, identified the extent of areas to be monitored, and included the development of a field validation protocol for the use of remote sensing.  

This training will focus on determining crop mapping and a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating water productivity in agriculture. In his address, Mr. Michael Hage, FAO Coordinator for North Africa, said that crop mapping is an important cross-cutting activity. Indeed, it provides reliable and recent data to guide decision makers. This is why geo-spatial data, methods and tools that can be defined simply as dynamic and real-time information are useful for agriculture. FAO has more than 30 years of experience in the development and use of geo-spatial data, methods and tools for planning and implementing sustainable development at the national, regional and global levels. It has also developed partnership relations with universities and specialized centers for the implementation of action plans and programs involving activities related to the management of water resources in agriculture by promoting synergies between scientists and development agents.