March 21, 2025

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as the project lead along with JAXA and GISTDA provided validated space-based agrometeorological (Agromet) information including extreme events such as flood/ drought to support monthly Rice Crop Outlook (RGO) activity in Asia.

The activity carried out under the Space Applications for Environment (SAFE) initiative and conducted during 2020 to 2024.

The objective is to develop satellite-derived Agromet data in comparison with in-situ data and training the officials in utilizing the information for supporting activities enabling regional food security.

The activity involved development and validation between ISRO’s and JAXA’s satellite data derived Agromet products such as Land Surface Temperature (LST), Rainfall / Precipitation and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and validated with GISTDA’s in-situ data.

ISRO organised online capacity building on “Satellite Derived Agrometeorological Data for AFSIS’s Rice Growing Outlook (RGO)” using ISRO's VEDAS portal for officials of Nine ASEAN countries.

AFSIS appreciated ISRO, JAXA and GISTDA for providing the Agromet data generated through this project and become vital resource for AFSIS in preparing their Monthly RGO reports.

The SAFE Agromet project has been highlighted in the “Guidance Document on Good Practices for Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating Capacity Development Interventions in GEOGLAM (GEO Global Agricultural monitoring)” and “Geospatial Practices for Sustainable Development in East and North-East Asia 2024 (UN ESCAP)” as a good practice in Asian region.