Training on Earth observation and climate data analysis for agricultural drought monitoring

ICIMOD, through its SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya (SERVIR-HKH) Initiative, is collaborating with global institutions and government line agencies in its regional member countries to promote the effective use of Earth observation for sustainable climate services. The goal is to facilitate better agriculture advisory services and adaptation policies in the region.

In Afghanistan, SERVIR-HKH provides technical assistance to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) by improving the use of technology in water resources, agriculture water use, and irrigation management and decision making. As part of the larger global SERVIR network – a joint development initiative of theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – SERVIR-HKH has specific priorities in Afghanistan related to the thematic areas of agriculture and food security; land cover, land use, and ecosystems; water resources and hydro-climatic disasters; and weather and climate services. SERVIR-HKH is developing a number of services in the priority thematic areas in partnership with relevant government agencies in Afghanistan. Several capacity-building activities focused on the use of Earth observation and geospatial information technology have been organized to strengthen partners’ capacities in the use of its services.

Accordingly, SERVIR-HKH is organizing a training on “Earth observation and climate data analysis for agricultural drought monitoring” from 23 to 27 September 2019 in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Objectives

The workshop primarily aims to build the capacity of partner institutions on the techniques of data development and analysis tailored for use in drought monitoring. It will impart hands-on skills and knowledge in remote sensing and climate data analysis to the participants.

Expected Outcomes

At the end of the training workshop, the participants will be able to:

• Understand the issues and management practices related to drought preparedness and mitigation in Afghanistan.
• Understand the basics of drought monitoring concepts based on Earth observation data products.
• Evaluate Climate Hazard Group (CHG) and South Asia Land Data Assimilation System (SALDAS) data products with ground station data.
• Understand the implications of drought conditions on crop yield.
• Gain a basic understanding of weather forecast and early warning systems.