Agriculture
App to Monitor Rice Fields: Paddy Watch
- 14 Jul 2020
- 3 min read
Why in News
Researchers from University of Sydney in collaboration with other partners have been developing an app i.e. Paddy watch, which will act as the first real-time monitoring platform for rice fields.
- The project has been undertaken in collaboration with Google Earth and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO).
Key Points
- Development of the App: The Paddy watch is being developed in partnership with Indian Agricultural Research Institute, India along with the research institutes from different countries i.e. China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
- These five countries hold the position of the largest rice-producing countries across the globe.
- Among these, India, China and Indonesia are the world’s three largest producers of rice and together account for about 60% of the total world production.
- Functioning: The real-time land-use data will be generated using Google Earth and cloud computing technology, and will be verified by field operators in partner countries to ensure accuracy of rice production worldwide.
- Significance:
- Digital Agriculture: The app would work on deep-learning techniques (works on the idea of Artificial Intelligence) to forecast crop yields and water consumption.
- This type of technology would enhance the world's confidence to feed the population in a sustainable way.
- Accurate Information: Accurate and up-to-date information on rice planted and harvested can be achieved through the app.
- It would allow farmers, agricultural scientists, non-government organisations and government planners to manage land use to ensure food security in the world’s rice bowls.
- Therefore, helps in meeting the United Nations-mandated sustainable development goal No.2 — of ‘Zero Hunger.’
- It would help in water management and water security by predicting the use of water for the rice fields.
- It would allow farmers, agricultural scientists, non-government organisations and government planners to manage land use to ensure food security in the world’s rice bowls.
- GreenHouse Gas Emission: As paddy fields release methane, a significant component to the greenhouse gases, the app would help in the estimation of the emission and impact of global warming.
- Policy Formulation: The information collected through the app would also help the associated partners to develop policies for education, economic growth, gender equity, and reduction of social inequality.
- Digital Agriculture: The app would work on deep-learning techniques (works on the idea of Artificial Intelligence) to forecast crop yields and water consumption.
Group on Earth Observations
- GEO is a unique global network connecting government institutions, academic and research institutions, data providers and scientists to benefit the world by comprehensive and sustained Earth observations.
- It coordinates international efforts to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).
- It aims to produce a global public infrastructure that generates, near-real-time environmental data, information and analyses for a wide range of users and mitigation of global issues like climate change.
