http://www.fao.org/inaction/improve-agriculture-monitoring-systems-for-iran Following the launch of the project to enhance Agriculture Monitoring Systems by FAO and Government of Iran, an inception workshop took place, for introducing the topic, its priorities, objectives, outcomes, methodologies, planned progresses, outputs and participants. These presentations are the related available documents. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

2. Improved Agricultural Monitoring systems
through satellite imagery for IRAN
BRIEFING AND PROJECT PROGRESS
PROJECT
Gianluca Franceschini
Technical coordinator and GIS|RS expert (CBDS)
Climate, Biodiversity, Land & Water Department (CB), UNFAO

3. OUTPUT 1
Innovative, up to date and complementary agriculture monitoring systems enabling
the integration of satellite remotely-sensed data are developed.
DELIVERABLES OUTPUT 1
• Deliver meetings/workshops including inception wsh with the stakeholders.
• Detailed technical document describing the result of the assessment, the areas for
improvement, and recommending a cost-effective methodology for estimating the
area under major crops at national level.
• Database included all the existing agriculture, geographic and administrative
information including multi-temporal Sentinel 2 data, etc.
• Land cover DB/map with focus on agriculture area based on FAO land cover
methodology and standards (LCML).
• Cropland Information including the main crop types and the main seasonal crop
dynamics based on cropland map and satellite information/indicators.
• Document/report describing alternative approaches for the continuity of satellite data
products for monitoring of crop growth.

4. International and National Consultants hired
• TORs for international and national
consultants prepared.
• Selection criteria prepared for each TOR.
• VA published in the FAO website.
• Evaluation of the applications and CVs.
• Final selection and hiring of staff.
Inception WSH organised
and outreach materials developed
• Skins, leaflet, banner, presentations
brouchures etc.
Implementation Plan developed
OUTPUT 1 – Status of activities

5. • 1.1 Stakeholders’ meeting(s)/workshop(s) for the identification
of the main current methods and tools.
• 1.2 Assess the current crop area and yield estimation methodology and identify
the most appropriate and cost-effective approach based on integral use of
geospatial technology.
• 1.3 Assess the existing data collection methodology and identify the most suitable
and cost-effective approach integrated with geospatial technologies.
• 1.4 Assess the current frame methodology and identify the most appropriate type
of frame development / migration and/or multiple frame.
• 1.5 Establish a baseline of current approaches, gaps and limitations of current
procedures and identify areas for improvement and the main sustainable methods
and tools for improvement.
On going
OUTPUT 1 – Status of activities

6. • 1.6 Collect all kinds of available existing agriculture,
statistics, geographic, geospatial, administrative
and other socio-economic information and introduce
in a database: On going
• 1.7 Develop land cover/cropland DB/map based
on the recent satellite imagery and FAO Land
Cover methodology for the selected areas:
Mazandaran completed, Zanjan on going (50%),
Jiroft on going (75%)
• 1.8 Generate cropland Information including the
main crop types and the main seasonal crop dynamics
for the three selected areas (Mazandaran and Zanjan
provinces and Jiroft county): crop calendar available,
multi-temporal NDVI computed, ground field data to
be collected by national counterpart;
• 1.9 Develop alternative approaches for monitoring
of crop growth based on RS: on-going.
• Open question: official provincial boundaries needed!
IMAGE COVERAGE
ZENJAN PROVINCE
MAZANDARAN
PROVINCE
OUTPUT 1 – Status of activities

7. FAO LC Mapping approach:
• Develop LC Legend based on FAO LCML
(ISO standard) approach throgh a wide
national experts partecipation.
• LC Legend analysis
and photo-keys preparation.
• Selection and download of cost-free,
recent and high resolution satellite
imagery (Sentinel-2 of 10m res.).
• Segmentation of the
satellite imageries.
• Image interpretation
(through FAO LC Toolbox).
• Field survey and validation.
• Statistics generation.
• Final analysis.
LCCS LEGEND
OUTPUT 1 – Status of activities

8. DELIVERABLES OUTPUT 2
• Sentinel based - crop/non crop map for selected provinces.
• Rice crop area and yield estimation; Crop masks and monthly NDVI.
• Develop methodological document for standard working procedure
to perform the crop masks and area estimation.
• Area frame stratification.
• Technical report recommending a cost-effective methodology for estimating
the area under major crops at national level to be ended under UTF.
• Project proposal for a larger UTF project for improving crop status monitoring,
area and yield estimates based on proved methodologies extended at national level.
Sustainable methods and tools for crop area and yield
estimation through integration of remote sensing and
sampling in the field to identify appropriate sites for yield
estimation and crop cutting exercise and to be used as a
calibrator for the area frame are developed in selected
provinces as a demonstrator for the larger UTF.
OUTPUT 2

9. • Satellite imagery (Sentinel 2)
selected and downloaded.
• Geoprocessing
of satellite data-completed.
• RS indicators completed.
• Develop crop systems map: on going.
OUTPUT 2 – Status of activities

10. Approach proposed for crop area estimation and mask development
not started yet:
1. Development stratification according to crop intensity.
2. Development of an Area Frame Sampling.
3. System Validation.
4. Area Frame data collection.
5. Regression Estimator.
OUTPUT 2 – Status of activities

11. Provincial crop reporting capability to provide crop area and yield estimations
to the public through regular and timely market-oriented reports containing actionable
information useful for decision-making by farmers and other interested in the crop
market are improved in selected provinces as a demonstrator for the larger UTF.
DELIVERABLES OUTPUT 3
• Assessment of the provincial crop reporting services and their
capability to utilize geospatial technology, field and other data
for producing and market-oriented reports on crop estimation
and forecasts.
• Guideline describing the main approaches for the preparation of
the reports/bulletin relying on satellite based crops information.
• Reports/bulletins for the selected provinces based on the satellite-
based estimate of area of crops and vegetation information.
• Agricultural experts system at national and provincial level, which
can report on crop stage and condition in a timely manner.
STATUS OF ACTIVITIES: will start at the end of 2017
OUTPUT 3

12. Capacity development through transfer of relevant methods, good practices and
learning materials and, exchange of development solution through South to South
Cooperation on agriculture monitoring optimized by use of geospatial technology
are achieved.
DELIVERABLES OUTPUT 4
• Web-trainings, On-the-job-training and Training of trainers in application of RS
and GIS for crop monitoring, AF and statistics generation: web-trainings completed.
• 2 Study tours: not delivered yet.
• Curriculum of several modules on “Geospatial information and technology
for agriculture statistics”: on-going.
• Satellite-based crop estimates reports/bulletins for the selected provinces: on-going.
• High-quality e-learning and training materials, guidelines, manuals and source books:
on-going;
• Outreach and communication materials: completed.
• Workshops/ seminars. Closure workshop for the presentation of the results.
OUTPUT 4

13. • Webinars
on Land Cover mapping
FAO LCML approach:
started and terminated.
• Webinars
on Geospatial Technology
for Agriculture Statistics
started and completed.
• Outreach and
communication materials
about the project:
developed.
OUTPUT 4 – Status of activities

14. Webinar training on:
“An overview of Land Cover Classification LCCS”
• 5 Webinars from 8 April - 16 April 2017
• Duration and timing of 60-120 min.
• Divided in 5 sessions, completed in 5 working days.
• Lessons format: presentation (PPT) and Tutorials.
• Participants curriculum: R.S. GIS specialists dealing
with the production and/or the utilization of Land
Cover/Land Use information.
• Participants: 10 staff from: FROWO, MOJA, IFO,
ACWMRI, APERDRI
Training completed
OUTPUT 4 – Status of activities

15. OUTPUT 4 – Status of activities
Webinar training on:
“Methodological aspects of the Geospatial
technology for agriculture statistics”
• 15 Webinars from 20 February – 6 June 2017
• Duration and timing of 60-75 min.
• Divided in 10 working days.
• Lessons format: presentation (PPT) and Tutorials.
• Participants curriculum: statistics and remote
sensing specialists dealing with the production
of agricultural statistics willing to take advantage
of advanced technological tools and methods.
• Participants: 10 staff from FROWO, MOJA, IFO,
ACWMRI, APERDRI.
Training on going

16. Outreach and communication materials about the project: developed
• Flyers
• Brochure
• Posters A0
• Skin for big panel
• WSH materials
• Others….
Inception workshop start
Type of document: printed big banner
Author: Food and Agriculture
Organization
of the United Nations (FAO)
Place and year of publication: IRAN, 2017
OUTPUT 4 – Status of activities

17. Gianluca.Franceschini@fao.org
THANK YOU!