Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM) project : highlighting the experience in Caraga Region [Philippines]

The Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM) project aims to develop a monitoring and information system for rice production in the Philippines. This information comes in the form of maps, statistics, and reports, and covers rice production areas, crop health, crop losses due to natural calamities, and assessment and extent of pest damage. These are derived from data collected through remote-sensing technology, crop modeling, and field and farmers survey. For Caraga, PRISM started in July 10 to December 2015 cropping season with pilot sites in Butuan City and San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. Planting estimates started from September to March and May to September for the first and second cropping. Using high resolution SAR images and ground truth surveys, rice areas in Agusan del Sur (32,354 ha), Agusan del Norte (11,242 ha), Surigao del Sur (10,824 ha). Surigao del Norte (5.946 ha) and Dinagat Islands (475 ha) were validated in January to June 2016 cropping season. Processed SAR images together with weather data, variety, soil and crop management data inputted in the crop growth modeling software, ORYZA, derived yield estimate in January to June 2016. Agusal del Norte obtained a 3.12 tons/ha 3.05 tons/ha in Agusan del Sur, 2.34 tons/ha in Surigao del Norte, 3.18 tons/ha in Surigao del Sur and 2.03 tons/ha for Dinagat Islands for PSA BAS estimates ADN has 3.68 tons/ha ADS has 3.47 tons/ha, SDN has 3.41 tons/ha and 3.38 tons/ha for SDS. PRISM estimates was referred to planted rice area while PSA referred to harvested area. On January 20,2017, several rice areas were flooded due to tail end of cold front. Agusan del Norte has 111 ha, 2,975 for ADS, 307 for SDS, 182 for SDS and 1 ha for Dinagat Islands. In terms of posts and disease monitoring, the following were observed in decreasing abundance in rice bug (18.27%), leaf blast (7.69%)leaf scald (9.60%), stemborer (7.32%) and leaffolder (6.39%.