CROP (Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress)

CROP (Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress) Latest News

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has estimated that India’s wheat production from eight major wheat-producing states will reach 122.724 million tonnes as of March 31, 2025, by using advanced satellite-based remote sensing technologies.

What is CROP?

• CROP stands for Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress.
• It is a semi-automated and scalable framework developed by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a part of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• The primary objective of CROP is to enable near real-time monitoring of crop sowing, growth, and harvesting across different seasons, especially during the Rabi season in India.

Technological Components

• CROP integrates data from multi-source remote sensing satellites, including:
  • EOS-04 (RISAT-1A) – provides Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data,
  • EOS-06 (Oceansat-3) – provides optical remote sensing data, and
  • Resourcesat-2A – used for high-resolution optical imaging of agricultural areas.
• It uses both Optical and SAR datasets to accurately monitor crop progress under varying weather and light conditions.

Major Wheat-Producing States Identified

• The eight primary wheat-growing states covered by the ISRO study are Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
• These states are crucial for ensuring national food security and contribute to the bulk of India's Rabi wheat harvest.

CROP (Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress) FAQs

Q1. What is the full form of CROP?
Ans. CROP stands for Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress, a program designed for large-scale crop monitoring using satellite imagery and geospatial technologies.

Q2. What is the main objective of the CROP initiative?
Ans. The CROP program aims to assess crop health, acreage, and growth stages across agricultural landscapes to support policy making and ensure food security.

Q3. Which agencies are primarily involved in the CROP project?
Ans. The CROP program is coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and state agricultural departments.

Source: TH