African farmers are using high performance private satellite data to improve crop yields

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"Now, farmers in Africa are turning to technology to avoid cycles of heavy crop losses that could spell financial disaster. They’re partnering with EOS Data Analytics, a California-based provider of satellite imagery and data for precision farming, which allows them to track where or when specific spots needed attention on various farms—and even to anticipate weather warnings."

"... The company [EOS Data] uses wavelengths of light including the near-infrared, which penetrates plant canopies and can be used to measure a range of variables, including moisture level and chlorophyll content. 

EOS’s models and algorithms deliver insights on crops’ health weekly through an online platform that farmers can use to make informed decisions about issues such as when to plant, how much herbicide to use, and how to schedule fertilizer use, weeding, or irrigation. ...

So last year the company launched EOS SAT-1, a satellite designed and operated solely for agriculture [resolution 0.75m]. Fees to use the crop-monitoring platform now start at $1.90 per hectare per year for small areas and drop as the farm gets larger. ..."

African farmers are using private satellite data to improve crop yields | MIT Technology Review "Last year, as the harvest season drew closer, Olabokunde Tope came across an unpleasant surprise."

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