The ADM-Kenya team recently concluded a comprehensive five-day workshop aimed at enhancing agricultural monitoring capabilities among key stakeholders. Held from May 20-24, 2024 at RCMRD, the workshop brought together over 40 participants from various organizations, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Kenyan Space Agency.
Before the workshop, a webinar on April 12, 2024, attracted more than 100 participants, setting the stage for the intensive training sessions. During the workshop, several presentations focused on national-scale drought hazard and impact-related products, as well as farming systems mapping and evapotranspiration estimation. Participants examined the use of this data and engaged in several hands-on sessions where they had the opportunity to test the developed processing chains.
The first dataset from the ADM-Kenya initiative was released during the workshop. The farming systems map, a key output of the project, is now available for download, providing accurate information regarding the management of these cropping systems at 10m spatial resolution. This map is expected to be an essential tool for stakeholders involved in agricultural planning and monitoring.
In addition to the technical sessions, the first policy report was released and discussed, highlighting the implications of the new data and tools for national agricultural policies. These discussions aimed to ensure that the insights gained from the workshop are integrated into policy frameworks, thereby supporting more informed decision-making processes.
Although the workshop primarily focused on drought, it also addressed how Earth observation-based data can be used for flood monitoring, highlighting case studies of flood-affected areas in Kenya during the extreme flood events in the spring. This broader perspective ensures that the tools and knowledge shared are versatile and applicable to various environmental challenges.
Participants provided valuable feedback on the tools and methodologies presented, and discussions were held on opportunities to integrate these advancements into their operational systems. This integration is expected to enhance the capabilities of the participating organizations in monitoring and responding to agricultural drought, ultimately supporting more effective decision-making and resource management.