CROP (Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress)

22.04.2025

CROP (Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress)

Why in the 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 the bulk of India's rabi wheat harvest.

                                                              Source: The Hindu

With reference to the 'CROP' (Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress) framework, consider the following statements:

1. It is a semi-automated and scalable system developed by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).

2. Its primary aim is to facilitate near real-time monitoring of crop activities—such as sowing, growth and harvesting—particularly during the Rabi season.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A.1 only

B.2 only

C.Both 1 and 2

D.Neither 1 nor 2

Answer C