Smallholder maize yield estimation using satellite data and machine learning in Ethiopia

The lack of timely, high-resolution data on agricultural production is a major challenge in developing countries where such information can guide the allocation of scarce resources for food security, agricultural investment and other objectives. While much research has suggested that remote sensing...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Guo, Zhe, Chamberlin, Jordan, You, Liangzhi
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131128
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author Guo, Zhe
Chamberlin, Jordan
You, Liangzhi
author_browse Chamberlin, Jordan
Guo, Zhe
You, Liangzhi
author_facet Guo, Zhe
Chamberlin, Jordan
You, Liangzhi
author_sort Guo, Zhe
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The lack of timely, high-resolution data on agricultural production is a major challenge in developing countries where such information can guide the allocation of scarce resources for food security, agricultural investment and other objectives. While much research has suggested that remote sensing can potentially help to address these gaps, few studies have indicated the immediate potential for large-scale estimations over both time and space. In this study we described a machine learning approach to estimate smallholder maize yield in Ethiopia, using well-measured and broadly distributed ground truth data and freely available spatiotemporal covariates from remote sensing. A neural networks model outperforms other algorithms in our study. Importantly, our work indicates that a model developed and calibrated on a previous year’s data can be used to reasonably estimate maize yield in the subsequent year. Our study suggests the feasibility of developing national programs for the routine generation of broad-scale, high-resolution estimates of smallholder maize yield, including seasonal forecasts, on the basis of machine learning algorithms and well-measured ground control data and currently existing time series satellite data.
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language Inglés
publishDate 2023
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spelling CGSpace1311282024-11-07T09:38:09Z Smallholder maize yield estimation using satellite data and machine learning in Ethiopia Guo, Zhe Chamberlin, Jordan You, Liangzhi agriculture agricultural production crop yield data developing countries machine learning maize remote sensing resources smallholders yield forecasting The lack of timely, high-resolution data on agricultural production is a major challenge in developing countries where such information can guide the allocation of scarce resources for food security, agricultural investment and other objectives. While much research has suggested that remote sensing can potentially help to address these gaps, few studies have indicated the immediate potential for large-scale estimations over both time and space. In this study we described a machine learning approach to estimate smallholder maize yield in Ethiopia, using well-measured and broadly distributed ground truth data and freely available spatiotemporal covariates from remote sensing. A neural networks model outperforms other algorithms in our study. Importantly, our work indicates that a model developed and calibrated on a previous year’s data can be used to reasonably estimate maize yield in the subsequent year. Our study suggests the feasibility of developing national programs for the routine generation of broad-scale, high-resolution estimates of smallholder maize yield, including seasonal forecasts, on the basis of machine learning algorithms and well-measured ground control data and currently existing time series satellite data. 2023-12 2023-07-12T20:44:52Z 2023-07-12T20:44:52Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131128 en Open Access Elsevier Guo, Zhe; Chamberlin, Jordan; and You, Liangzhi. 2023. Smallholder maize yield estimation using satellite data and machine learning in Ethiopia. Crop and Environment 2(4): 165-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crope.2023.07.002
spellingShingle agriculture
agricultural production
crop yield
data
developing countries
machine learning
maize
remote sensing
resources
smallholders
yield forecasting
Guo, Zhe
Chamberlin, Jordan
You, Liangzhi
Smallholder maize yield estimation using satellite data and machine learning in Ethiopia
title Smallholder maize yield estimation using satellite data and machine learning in Ethiopia
title_full Smallholder maize yield estimation using satellite data and machine learning in Ethiopia
title_fullStr Smallholder maize yield estimation using satellite data and machine learning in Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Smallholder maize yield estimation using satellite data and machine learning in Ethiopia
title_short Smallholder maize yield estimation using satellite data and machine learning in Ethiopia
title_sort smallholder maize yield estimation using satellite data and machine learning in ethiopia
topic agriculture
agricultural production
crop yield
data
developing countries
machine learning
maize
remote sensing
resources
smallholders
yield forecasting
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131128
work_keys_str_mv AT guozhe smallholdermaizeyieldestimationusingsatellitedataandmachinelearninginethiopia
AT chamberlinjordan smallholdermaizeyieldestimationusingsatellitedataandmachinelearninginethiopia
AT youliangzhi smallholdermaizeyieldestimationusingsatellitedataandmachinelearninginethiopia