DAE and ADB Workshop Highlights Transformative Role of Drones, Satellite Imagery, and Digital Tools in Bangladesh's Agriculture

Recently (14 July 2025) the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently co-hosted a pivotal workshop on "Use of Drone and Satellite Image for Crop Monitoring and Crop Damage Assessment: Study Results and Capacity Building in Climate Smart Agriculture” at hotel InterContinental, Dhaka. The event clearly articulated a path forward for a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector in Bangladesh, focusing on advanced technologies and sustainable practices.

The comprehensive workshop was structured into two key sessions: i) "Use of Drone and Satellite Image for Crop Monitoring and Crop Damage Assessment," and ii) "Low-Carbon Rice Production and Use of Digital Tools (IoT based AWD)." Both sessions underscored the critical need for technology-driven solutions to address the evolving challenges in the country's agricultural landscape.

The workshop was graced by the presence of esteemed delegates including Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, Honorable Secretary, Ministry of Agriculturewho served as the Chief Guest, Mr. Md. Saiful Alam, Director General of DAE, and Mr. Hoe Yun Jeong, Country Director of the ADB, Bangladesh Resident Mission. Distinguished guests from various government, private, and international organizations, including ADB HQ, World Bank, JICA, Embassy of Japan, IRRI, and DASCHO Foundation, also attended, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the initiative.

While Bangladesh's agriculture has undergone significant modernization and data-driven transformations over the past two decades, real-time crop monitoring and damage assessment remain areas needing substantial advancement. Drones and satellite imagery offer vital solutions to these gaps. The agricultural sector grapples with four major challenges: climate change, natural disasters, increased production costs, and decreasing cultivable land. To overcome these, agriculture must become more technology-dependent, information-driven, and efficient, with drone and satellite imaging serving as crucial allies.

A key highlight of the workshop was the successful development and presentation of a crop damage assessment method utilizing drone and satellite imagery, initially piloted in Sylhet district. This groundbreaking study identified and mapped Boro rice crops, examining the extent of flood-induced damage and highlighting vulnerable areas through geospatial analysis. This innovative method represents a significant milestone for DAE, promising enhanced accuracy and efficiency in future crop damage assessments and marking a vital step towards climate-smart agriculture. The compelling study results demonstrated that these technologies are not just futuristic concepts but practical tools for real-time crop monitoring, quick identification of disease outbreaks, efficient resource allocation, and rapid, accurate assessments after natural calamities. 

Importantly, the data generated from these applications will provide invaluable, granular insights, empowering the government to formulate more precise, evidence-based agricultural policies, particularly concerning disaster response, input subsidies, and crop diversification strategies.

The second session provided equally vital insights into low-carbon rice production through digital tools, particularly IoT-based Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD). A study conducted in the Barind region during the 2025 Boro (dry) season examined how digital technologies could support the adoption of AWD among the farmers. AWD is a water-saving practice that significantly reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions without compromising crop yields. The project deployed a wide range of devices, including IoT-based water sensors and automated GHG chambers, to help farmers safely adopt AWD and record reduced emissions. 

The workshop concluded with a shared vision for integrating these advanced technologies into Bangladesh's agricultural framework, empowering farmers, enhancing planning, and building a more resilient and sustainable future.