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I developed Illicit Crop Monitoring Methodologies to Monitor Illicit Opium Poppy and Cannabis Cultivation in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Lao PDR and Morocco during my service at UNODC. I served as an illicit Crop Monitoring Project Expert at UNODC between 2002 and 2009.
There has been many improvements in Satellite imagery technology in recent years. It is now possible to reach free satellite imagery (like Sentinel). In addition to this, it is possible to reach cost-free processed images (like landcover and etc) as well.
Therefore, we are now trying cost-free Sentinel images to monitor licit and illicit crop cultivation in combination with GIS and Statistical tools. Project is at the testing phase. We are currently, testing the methodology for monitoring of the opium poppy fields in Afghanistan.
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Below are the initial results of the monitoring of the opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan in 2021
Opium Poppy Cultivation in Afghanistan in 2021
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Nangarhar: 11,985 hectares (11,759* hectares in 2020)
Almost 45% of the farmers who cultivated poppy also cultivated poppy in 2021 as well. Furthermore, 26% of the farmers who cultivated wheat in 2020, and 15% of the farmers who cultivated other crops, also cultivated opium poppy in 2021.
*My estimation in 2020
Advantages Sentionel Images:
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1- Cost-free Satellite Imagery
2- District Level Estimations
3- Estimation of main crops in addition to the opium poppy fields.
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