Geospatial Technology in Agriculture: Issues and

ChallengesMuhamad Radzali MispanPrincipal research officer

Malaysian agriculture research and development institute (MARDI)P.O. Box 12301

50774 Kuala Lumpurradzali@mardi.gov.my

Introductions

Agriculture at work

Agriculture scenario

The agriculture sector is expected to register a high annual rate of growth and contribute significantly to the country’s economic development.

restructure and transform to increase productivity and competitiveness.

require a major shift from small-scale, mono cropping and low technology farming to that of large-scale, integrated and high technology production.

Agriculture scenario

a greater involvement of the private sector and organized farming will be promoted, particularly in food production.

generate new sources of growth, activities and crops with commercial potential

Develop and establish linkages with other sectors of the economy.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF NAP3

Enhancing food security Increasing productivity &

competitiveness of the sector Deepen linkages with other sectors Create new sources of growth Adopting sustainable development,

utilization and management of natural resources

Land and Environment resources competing land use Labour Agriculture input Sustainable productions Food security Food safety

Issues

Roles of Geospatial Technology in Agriculture Sector

x.y.z

ChallengesTowards sustainable eco-friendly agriculture development accurate identification and characterisation of land resources and environment domain.Requirement for integrated database for land resources and environment and meteorology datasets Site specific agriculture development (one district one product)Tool for agriculture planning and management and monitoring system

Early warning systemmodelling ecosystems

managements Crop production

potentialsdecision support system Quick assessment of soil

and environment health and qualities

Challenges

Information needs Land resources data in terms of land use,

cropping area, water bodies and drainage, soils, terrain characteristics, mineral resources etc.

Demographic data - relating to population, sex ratio, age structure, urban and rural population, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population, occupational structure migration etc.

Agro-economic data - comprising information about cropped and irrigated area, agricultural production, land holdings, live stock population etc.

Information needs

Socio-economic activities - relating to industrial, fishing activities, tourism development as well as beneficiary of various schemes and development program

Infrastructure data - relating to availability and level of various facilities - utilities and services such as education, health, power, transport network, water supply, drainage etc.

generating spatial plans for the whole country -annual plans, five-year plans, perspective plans;

for quickly assessing damages due natural disasters

monitoring and evaluating the policies and programs

National level

State level

1. prepare state-level plans -annual plans, five-year plans, perspective plans etc.

2. monitor and evaluate plans and programs.

District level

• the core of the de-centralised planning process.

• The node can also be used to generate plans for smaller units with a major stress on People's participation in the planning process.

Agriculture schemepreparing agriculture development plans, Command Area Development

The monitoring and evaluation of the sectoral plans

Project levelthe lowest end of the hierarchy and would contain the base data for the sector collected for a small area.

The database would be detailed and best suited for management and exploitation of the specific resources in the area.

CONCLUSION

Geospatial technology plays important in agriculture sectors at various levels

The technology can be utilised in various aspect in agro-based industry

Experts in geospatial technology should look into the issues and challenges facing the agriculture sector in integrated manner (not technology driven)