Integrated Approach Based on Remote Sensing and GIS for Estimation of Area under Paddy Crop in North-Eastern Hilly Region

Abstract

At present the states belonging to north-eastern region do not have any objective approach for collectionofagricultural statistics.Thenorth-easternstatesparticularlyMeghalaya,mainlyconsists of hilly region with thick forest cover and mostly terraced farming and Jhurn cultivation is practiced in these regions. The main problem of this region is its undulating topography and non-accessibility of vastareaandvery lesspercentage ofareaunderagriculture,scatteredthroughoutthestate.Meghalaya, remain covered by clouds most ofthe time duringthe year. Therefore, use ofremote sensing satellite data alone may not be able to provide reliable information regarding crop acreages. Therefore, in the present studysamplingmethodology for collectionofagricultural statisticsusingremote sensing satellite data combined with ground survey has been proposed.