Monsoon paddy monitoring and assessment using synthetic aperture radar data under BGREI programme in Odisha, India

Bringing green revolution in eastern India (BGREI) is an initiative of Department of Agriculture and Co-operation (DAC) Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Govt. of India with the aim of increasing crop productivity through improved inputs and package of practices in seven states of eastern India comprising the low productivity zones. The current study aimed at assessment of the BGREI plots with respect to crop vigour variability using space-based observations. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data were used to assess the rice crop growth pattern and vigour through change in backscatter response. A SAR-based methodology was developed to evaluate the effect of BGREI initiative in the state of Odisha. The peak biomass, an indicator of crop vigour was 15–30 % higher in BGREI plots compared to the controlled plots. The improvement was higher in traditionally low productivity rainfed zones. Uniformity in growth in terms of growth rate, transplantation time and duration was observed in BGREI plots. The positive effect of BGREI in Odisha indicates that BGREI may be a breakthrough in improving rice productivity in low productivity zones of eastern India .