INTRODUCTION

Precision Agriculture also called "Site-Specific Farming" is an agricultural method based on applying the right amount of input (fertilizer, pesticide, water etc.) at the right location and at the right time to enhance production, decrease input, and/or protect the environment. Precision Agriculture relies on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for geographic information. GNSS is a satellite system that is used to pinpoint geographic location anywhere in the world through precise time calculations.

Precision agriculture allows farmers to manage specific areas within fields, rather than using the same management on the whole field. This is called Variable-Rate Application and it relies on the existence of in-field variability. This method of application is better because the traditionally used single rate input application may result in over application in some parts of the field and under application in other parts, and the Variable-Rate Application avoids this situation.

Benefits of Precision Agriculture are:

-Better estimation of the real needs of the crops.

-More accurately predict crop yields.

-Increase of the output and/or reduction of the input.

-Better planning and time management agricultural activities.

-Apply insecticides only in the places where insect problems exist.

-Helps farmers keep records of the history of his farm practices and results.

CURRENT SITUATION IN ZAMBIA

There is currently another project in the department that seeks to update Zambia's map datum (Zambia's digital map). Before this project, Zambia used the Arc-1950 datum for all topographic mapping & geodetic survey purposes. Now, due to the recent establishment of permanent Global Position System (GPS) receivers in Zambia, the map datum in of the country can be updated. These GPS receivers allow us to harness Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) imagery so that a new and improved map datum can be created for the country. This new map datum will enable us to get a topological map of fields for farmers. From this data, climatic and geological information can be obtained. This information can be used to establish important input-output relationships for the crops to be grown and the right farming implements to be applied. This way farmers can make more informed decisions when it comes to farming.

This project seeks to collect remote sensed data that comes from satellites and GPS units (such as soil classification, topology, ground water availability, soil fertility, insect locations etc.) and to create a database so as to make it more accessible to farmers and other interested parties.