FAO, Iran Cooperating to Improve Agricultural Monitoring Systems

Date: 13 November 2019 - 21:46

News ID: ۷۲۶۹۶

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A recent report on the first phase of the FAO project "Improve agriculture monitoring systems through satellite imagery for Iran” reveals how the introduction of high-resolution satellite imagery enabled the country to gather near-real time crop and field information.

"We are working with Iran using advanced geospatial technologies to support the development of techniques, as well as policy and investment conditions to achieve sustainable agricultural development under climate change, in Iran,” said Douglas Muchoney, Senior Environment Officer and Head of FAO’s Geospatial Unit.
He went on to explain how "more frequent and extreme climate events, such as floods, drought and frost, are adversely affecting agricultural production in Iran and this needs a comprehensive, systematic and accurate agricultural monitoring system.”
The report presents current data collection practices used by MAJ revealing, for example, the lack of timely and cost-effective procedures in place that also relied on old census data and sampling techniques. The report also looks in detail at the application of remote sensing in agricultural data collection and a previously implemented pilot project in the Hamedan Province.
Under the project, FAO’s Geospatial Unit also organized a 1-week study tour in FAO headquarters for two delegations from MAJ. Through similar ongoing projects in FAO, the participants had a chance to understand better how effective monitoring works in practice.