ISRO Satellites Forecast Wheat Production:  Use of Space Technology in Agriculture Sector

Syllabus :GS 3/Economy 

In News

• ISRO’s study using satellite data has estimated India’s total wheat production for the 2024-25 Rabi season at 122.724 million tonnes from eight major wheat-growing states. 

About the study 

• It used the Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress (CROP) framework, which employs Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) datasets from EOS-04, EOS-06, and Resourcesat-2A to monitor wheat sowing and crop conditions in near real-time.
  • CROP is a semi-automated, scalable framework, developed by NRSC/ISRO that enables the near real-time monitoring of crop sowing and harvesting during the Rabi season across India. 
• As of March 31, 2025, the wheat sown area was 330.8 lakh hectares, closely matching the Ministry of Agriculture’s data. 

Importance and Need of  Space Technology in Agriculture Sector

• India’s agricultural sector is vital for livelihoods but faces pressure from a growing population and shrinking natural resources.
  • To ensure sustainability, optimized planning and smart resource management are essential.
• Space-based technologies such as satellite imaging, remote sensing, GNSS, and geolocation offer powerful tools for monitoring large, diverse areas.
• It Improves crop monitoring, resource use, and weather forecasting.
• It supports informed decision-making for farmers, researchers, and policymakers.

Applications

• Precision Agriculture : Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) enables accurate field mapping and resource allocation.
  • It helps in precise irrigation, nutrient management, and crop planning.
  • It boosts yields and resource efficiency.
• Improved Connectivity : Satellite-based networks provide real-time access to weather, prices, and expert advice.
• Remote Sensing & Satellite Imaging : It tracks crop health, vegetation, and land use.
  • It detects disease early for targeted pest control and reduced pesticide use.
• Hyperspectral Imaging:  It offers detailed plant health insights by detecting subtle physiological changes.
  • More effective than traditional spectral sensors.
• Water & Soil Management:  It supports efficient irrigation, groundwater conservation, and soil moisture tracking.
  • It aids in combating erosion, land degradation, and promoting soil conservation. 

Related steps

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has actively adopted space technology since the 1980s for improving agricultural planning and productivity.
• In 2012, the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) was established to operationalize ISRO’s space technology for crop forecasting.
• The Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI) uses satellite data for soil resource mapping.
• Krishi-DSS is a first-of-its-kind geospatial platform specifically designed for Indian agriculture. The platform provides seamless access to comprehensive data including satellite images, weather information, reservoir storage, groundwater levels and soil health information, which can be easily accessed from anywhere at any time.

Conclusion and Way Forward 

• Space technology holds immense promise for the future of agriculture. 
• By harnessing the power of satellite imagery and data, the agricultural sector can achieve significant improvements in productivity, sustainability, and economic value.
• Their growing adoption will play a crucial role in ensuring food security, economic development, and environmental sustainability.

Source :TH