Abstract

In most developing countries, and especially in the Sahel, scarce water resources make it particularly difficult to identify potential sites for agricultural development. In Mali, this identification is related to the hydrological characteristics of the Niger River Valley. This project aims to produce information related to the hydrology of the Valley. Specifically, ways of gathering information based on remote sensing by satellite will be developed. These methods will serve to produce the mapping information needed in development site search in the South-East of Mali. The project will strengthen the Topographic Division of the Direction nationale du Génie rural through the transfer of technology and advanced information methods.

Post-Project Summary

A multidisciplinary team including researchers in the fields of water management, rural development, agriculture and remote sensing, developed and implemented an innovative remote sensing-based methodology to identify lands with various agricultural potential along a specific section of the Niger River. They obtained data describing flood levels from SPOT and LANDSAT-TM satellite images. Auxilliary data from aerial photographs were also collected. The stages of ebb and flow of the River were pieced together from the SPOT and LANDSAT-TM images and aerial photographs, and analyzed in conjunction with topographical and soil data to create a composite chart indicating areas with agricultural potential. Knowledge of crop requirements in terms of soil, humidity, water level, planting times, etc., were cross-referenced with the composite chart to determine how the land could best be used.

The study resoundingly endorsed the use of satellite remote sensing for rural development planning. Remote sensing was found capable of providing a whole range of information products in less time and with less resources than traditional methods. The spectral resolution of the LANDSAT-TM images were most useful in providing water and crop data, while the SPOT system, with its strong spatial resolution, provided better visual interpretation of the land cover. Aerial photography, although more costly, was deemed indispensable for controlling and correcting image interpretation and manipulation. The project results were disseminated through one journal article (Jaton, A. et al. Coopération Canada-Mali: télédétection et agriculture sur les berges du Niger. Journal canadien de télédétection. 18(1) January 1992) and three conference presentations.

Recipient Institution(s)