Abstract:
This paper presents a method based on the use of remotely sensed data to identify and map sugarcane fields. It identifies the sowing trends adopted by sugarcane growers from the year 2008 to 2014 and also determines and analyses the socio-economic causes behind such trends. A field survey was carried out in two districts, Sargodha and Okara, for ground truthing the exact location of major crops. Field survey data and NDVI images created from data from Landsat 7 and 8 data were used to determine the appropriate time and range of NDVI values required to map sugarcane fields. NDVI images were then classified into sugarcane and non-sugarcane areas. Sugarcane sown areas in 21 districts of Punjab over the years 2008 till 2014 were analysed to obtain sowing trends. The sown area identified through remotely sensed data was then compared with statistical data obtained from the Government of Punjab (GOP). Overall, similarity among the two data sets was approximately 90%. Sugarcane sown area mapped from remotely sensed data was also compared with ground truth data collected in the field for three districts i.e. Faisalabad, Hafizadad and Sargodha. The overall accuracy for these districts was 79%, 72% and 80 % respectively. A sowing trend map was created from the sugarcane sown area estimated from remotely sensed data. The results showed that out of the 21 districts examined, sugarcane area over the years 2008 to 2014 decreased in 6 districts, increased in 5 districts and remained consistent in the rest of the 10 districts. A comprehensive questionnaire was designed in the local language and distributed amongst farmers to investigate the socio-economic causes affecting the sugarcane sowing trend. Results indicated that profitability of the sugarcane crop is at par with crops like wheat, rice and cotton. 100 % of the farmers were dissatisfied with the government imposed support price of sugarcane as well as the attitude and
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behaviour of sugar mill staff. One of the main reasons for decreasing trend in sugarcane sowing in six districts was deduced to be low crop prices and delayed payments. While the GOP recommended support price for sugarcane during 2014 was Rs 180/- per 40 kgs, some sugar mills, particularly those in the districts where sugarcane area is decreasing, are only paying Rs 176/- per 40 kgs on average. Payments to farmers are also being delayed for an average of nine months.
The method presented in this paper for identifying sugarcane areas can be helpful for both farmers as well as sugar mill owners for effective and timely monitoring of sugarcane crop vs their requirement in their respective feeding areas.
