From the Sky to the Soil: A new USDA partnership to improve Tanzanian agriculture

From the sky to the soil, the USDA‘s Foreign Ag Service is working with college students in Tanzania to strengthen the agriculture community.

At the beginning of the project in April, the students spent four days capturing data on 334 fields by photographing, geo-referencing, and identifying target crops to enhance satellite imagery. They now have collected data from almost two thousand fields.

The group is called YouthMappers and has the goal to create an agricultural library of data for surrounding regions. This will help future farmers better understand crop conditions and seasonal rains.

Related Stories
Tariffs on combines, harvesters, and some farm equipment will be reduced to 15% until 2028.
Higher domestic ethanol blending supports corn demand even as weekly production and export volumes decline.
Specialty crop growers should confirm eligible acreage and application access early to avoid missing available assistance.
Corn farmers and ethanol groups are urging Senate action on E-15 legislation while grain basis values strengthen in eastern states.
Negotiators are focusing on tariffs, market access, and economic security as broader trade discussions continue.
The American Sheep Industry Association says high labor costs and volatile markets continue creating pressure for producers.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Freight costs are increasing out of one of Brazil’s major southern ports due to the “biblical flooding”, obscuring rail and road passages to and from Rio Grande Do Sul.