Satellite and Drone Images to Help Cacao Farming in Peru

Roman-Gonzalez A.; Alvarez-Huarhua J.R.; Romero-Alva V.N.; Vargas-Cuentas N.I. · Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC (2023)

Resumen

For Peru, cacao exports exceeded US $ 200 million in 2014. In 2015, the crop area of cacao was increased by a cultivable acreage of around 50, 000 hectares. These 50, 000 hectares represent a growth of around 15% that allows an increasing cacao export to European countries, a trend that started about ten years ago. The yield per hectare is between 250 to 350 kg/ha. Likewise, the importance of the cultivation of cocoa lies in its ability to generate work at different levels of the production chain. It is expected to work directly with producer organizations such as the Association of Cocoa Producers of the Convention Valley (APROCAV - Asociacion de Productores de Cacao del Vale de La Convencion), the Central Cooperatives of the Convention Valley (COCLA - Central de Cooperativas del Valle de La Convencion), among others. An intelligent monitoring, based on satellite and drone images, of the current crop areas and future hectares will have a substantial economic impact for Peru if our proposed novel monitoring only requires a modest effort and leads to improved farming practices, better risk assessments, and, finally, to a higher crop yield; However, a proof of concept will require the observation of cacao plantations over a whole growing period and has to include irrigation, fertilization, pest management, plant diseases, and ecological side effects. Copyright

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; Universidad Nacional Tecnológica de Lima Sur; Universidad de Ciencias y Humanidades