This project is aimed at combating food security by smart farming through the implementation of remote sensing technology by observing and analyzing the factors that affect plant growth.
OBJECTIVES:
1.Promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.
2.Reduce the socioeconomic dependence of farmers on the government.
3.Encourage the consideration of the influence of climate change in farm management.
4. Crop growth monitoring
5. Crop yield prediction
6.Highlight the importance of remote sensing technology in agriculture
PROCESS:
1. Soil parameters are assessed by ground mounted instruments such as probes and samples are collected for lab analysis.
2. Collate satellite imagery (time series dekad data) that observes vegetation and climatic conditions.
3. Use this data to formulate crop inputs, monitor crop growth and predict crop yields for improved business management. This data can also be used to prepare for future growing seasons.
Botswana is a medium, semi-arid country with 76% of its population dependent on agriculture. The instability of Botswana’s food security as a sub-Saharan country has led to the necessity to utilize technology and develop policies for sustainable solutions to support a constantly growing population.Agriculture is the basis of food security, however due to various factors that range from climate change to socioeconomic constraints, fluctuations in crop production have led to deficits and thus lowered the standard of living in Botswana.Monitoring will increase agricultural efficiency to achieve food security and reduces risks through accurate forecasting. This research falls under technological applications for sustainable agriculture in line with the Vision 2036 to make Botswana food sufficient.

https://fanikisolynn.wixsite.com/agrogeobw

• Botswana

• Youth
• Older persons
• Women
• The unemployed
• The poor
• Remote and rural communities
• SMALL HOLDER FARMERS, RAIN-FED AGRICULTURE

This project is replicable because natural phenomena is constantly evolving and thus is in need of constant monitoring in order to ensure that farmer's stay ahead of climatic changes.

AgroGeoBW packages will be individualized to the needs and financial abilities of small hold farmers. This will ensure that they are retained as clients during the growing seasons as well as the off seasons to ensure they are well prepared for future seasons.

There are a variety of remote sensing indices that can be used to cater for different biomes. This project can grow beyond the borders of Botswana and partner with organizations such as MESA-SADC.

This project can also be a stepping stone in agricultural insurance within Botswana. Partnerships can be made with insurance companies that can lead to stabilization of the agricultural industry.

There are many facets of this project that ensure that it can operate for an extended period of time.

Precision farming ensures that poor agricultural practices will be phased out thus ensuring that the depletion of natural resources is lessened. Land and crop suitability are very advantageous and help lessen the damage done to the environment.
The economic returns will be significant for the farmers and ensure agronomy as a contender for economic diversification in Botswana.

WSIS believes in projects that impact the local population on a significant scale. And this particular project intends to target the small holder farmers of Botswana who do not have access or qualify for government schemes or the technical knowledge to improve their crop production. AgroGeoBW intends to be an agro-hub that disseminates information at the grass-root level and bridges the gap between the government and private sectors. The farmers will be our most integral partners; their feedback and consultation will be of paramount importance to us. Employment will be created on a massive scale because this project can be implemented nationally and the farmers will be taught how to manage the various platforms that AgroGeoBW will formulate. The main idea is to identify environmentally sustainable solutions for issues concerning agronomy.