Module 1: Introduction to Precision Agriculture

• Definition and history of precision agriculture
• The "4R" nutrient stewardship concept (Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place)
• Key components of a precision agriculture system
• Benefits and challenges of adopting precision agriculture
• Overview of the precision agriculture workflow
• Practical session: Discussing and analyzing case studies of successful precision agriculture implementations

Module 2: Fundamentals of GIS for Agriculture

• Basic GIS concepts: layers, attributes, spatial data models
• Coordinate systems and map projections for farm mapping
• Creating farm base maps (field boundaries, infrastructure)
• Georeferencing historical farm maps and aerial photos
• Using GIS software (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS Pro) for agricultural applications
• Practical session: Creating a digital farm boundary map and adding key features in GIS software

Module 3: Remote Sensing Basics for Crop Monitoring

• Principles of remote sensing: electromagnetic spectrum, spectral signatures
• Satellite imagery for agriculture (e.g., Landsat, Sentinel, Planet)
• Aerial imagery from manned aircraft
• Understanding spatial, spectral, temporal, and radiometric resolutions
• Introduction to remote sensing software for agricultural analysis
• Practical session: Accessing and visualizing satellite imagery for agricultural fields

Module 4: Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in Agriculture

• Introduction to GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou)
• Accuracy levels: standalone GPS, DGPS, RTK, PPK
• Applications of GNSS in agriculture (e.g., guidance, mapping, sampling)
• Understanding signal errors and correction methods
• Setting up and using GNSS receivers for field operations
• Practical session: Simulating GNSS data collection for field boundaries or sampling points

Module 5: Geospatial Data Acquisition for Precision Agriculture

• Manual field data collection using mobile GIS/GPS devices
• Automated data collection from farm machinery (e.g., yield monitors, sprayers)
• Drone-based data acquisition (RGB, multispectral)
• Satellite image acquisition and access portals
• Integrating data from various sources
• Practical session: Importing and preparing data from different agricultural sensors

Module 6: Data Processing and Management for Farm-Scale Applications

• Data cleaning, filtering, and interpolation techniques
• Managing large volumes of farm data
• Creating consistent farm-level geodatabases
• Data standardization and quality control
• Cloud-based platforms for agricultural data management
• Practical session: Processing raw farm data (e.g., yield monitor data) and preparing it for analysis

Module 7: Crop Health Monitoring using Spectral Indices

• Understanding plant spectral reflectance
• Common vegetation indices (e.g., NDVI, EVI, GNDVI, NDRE)
• Calculating and interpreting vegetation index maps
• Identifying areas of stress, disease, or nutrient deficiency
• Time-series analysis of vegetation indices for crop growth monitoring
• Practical session: Calculating and visualizing NDVI maps over a growing season

Module 8: Soil Mapping and Analysis for Variable Rate Application

• Traditional soil sampling methods
• Remote sensing for soil property estimation (e.g., organic matter, moisture)
• Electrical Conductivity (EC) mapping and interpretation
• Creating soil management zones
• Integrating soil data with other geospatial layers
• Practical session: Creating soil variability maps from EC data and defining management zones

Module 9: Yield Monitoring and Yield Map Creation

• Principles of yield monitoring systems on combines
• Data processing for raw yield data
• Creating accurate and interpretable yield maps
• Identifying high and low productivity zones
• Analyzing yield variability and its causes
• Practical session: Processing raw yield monitor data to generate a yield map

Module 10: Variable Rate Application (VRA) Technologies

• Principles of variable rate application
• Types of VRA systems (e.g., fertilizer spreaders, sprayers, planters)
• Creating prescription maps for VRA
• Implementing VRA for fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides
• Calibration and validation of VRA equipment
• Practical session: Creating a variable rate fertilizer prescription map based on soil and yield data

Module 11: Drone-Based Remote Sensing for Precision Agriculture

• Drone types and sensors for agricultural applications (RGB, multispectral, thermal)
• Flight planning for agricultural missions
• Photogrammetric processing of drone imagery for orthomosaics and DSMs
• Advanced vegetation indices from drone data
• Applications: stand counting, weed detection, irrigation monitoring
• Practical session: Processing drone imagery to create high-resolution crop health maps

Module 12: Advanced Spatial Analysis for Farm Management

• Spatial statistics for identifying patterns in farm data
• Geostatistical methods for interpolation (e.g., Kriging for soil properties)
• Change detection for land use and crop rotation
• Site-specific crop management zones optimization
• Decision support systems for precision agriculture
• Practical session: Performing geostatistical interpolation on soil sample data to create a continuous map

Module 13: Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) and Data Integration

• Overview of FMIS platforms
• Integrating various data sources into an FMIS
• Data exchange standards in agriculture
• Cloud-based FMIS solutions
• Using FMIS for record-keeping, planning, and reporting
• Practical session: Exploring an FMIS platform and integrating different farm datasets

Module 14: Machine Learning and AI in Precision Agriculture

• Introduction to machine learning for agricultural data
• Predictive modeling for yield forecasting, disease detection
• Image classification for crop type mapping
• Deep learning for automated feature extraction from imagery
• AI-powered decision support tools
• Practical session: Applying a machine learning model for crop classification or yield prediction

Module 15: Economic Benefits and Environmental Sustainability

• Quantifying the economic returns of precision agriculture
• Reducing environmental impact: nutrient runoff, pesticide use
• Water use efficiency and irrigation management
• Carbon sequestration and sustainable farming practices
• Regulatory compliance and reporting
• Practical session: Calculating potential cost savings from implementing VRA strategies

Module 16: Implementation and Adoption Challenges

• Technical challenges: data compatibility, equipment integration
• Economic barriers: initial investment costs
• Human factors: farmer training and acceptance
• Data privacy and ownership concerns
• Strategies for successful adoption of precision agriculture
• Practical session: Discussing common challenges and solutions in precision agriculture implementation

Module 17: Case Studies and Best Practices in Precision Agriculture

• Review of successful precision agriculture projects globally
• Lessons learned from diverse farming operations
• Best practices for data collection, analysis, and application
• Developing a precision agriculture implementation plan
• Evaluating the effectiveness of precision agriculture strategies
• Practical session: Analyzing a comprehensive case study from a real farm implementing precision agriculture

Module 18: Future Trends and Innovations in Agri-Tech

• Robotics and autonomous farm machinery
• IoT sensors and real-time data streams
• Big data analytics for large-scale agricultural insights
• Blockchain for supply chain transparency
• Gene editing and precision breeding
• Practical session: Discussion on emerging technologies and their potential impact on future farming practices

Requirements:

·       Participants should be reasonably proficient in English.

·       Applicants must live up to Armstrong Global Institute admission criteria.

Terms and Conditions

1. Discounts: Organizations sponsoring Four Participants will have the 5th attend Free

2. What is catered for by the Course Fees: Fees cater for all requirements for the training – Learning materials, Lunches, Teas, Snacks and Certification. All participants will additionally cater for their travel and accommodation expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.

3. Certificate Awarded: Participants are awarded Certificates of Participation at the end of the training.

4. The program content shown here is for guidance purposes only. Our continuous course improvement process may lead to changes in topics and course structure.

5. Approval of Course: Our Programs are NITA Approved. Participating organizations can therefore claim reimbursement on fees paid in accordance with NITA Rules.

Booking for Training

Simply send an email to the Training Officer on training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com and we will send you a registration form. We advise you to book early to avoid missing a seat to this training.

Or call us on +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588

Payment Options

We provide 3 payment options, choose one for your convenience, and kindly make payments at least 5 days before the Training start date to reserve your seat:

1. Groups of 5 People and Above – Cheque Payments to: Armstrong Global Training & Development Center Limited should be paid in advance, 5 days to the training.

2. Invoice: We can send a bill directly to you or your company.

3. Deposit directly into Bank Account (Account details provided upon request)

Cancellation Policy

1. Payment for all courses includes a registration fee, which is non-refundable, and equals 15% of the total sum of the course fee.

2. Participants may cancel attendance 14 days or more prior to the training commencement date.

3. No refunds will be made 14 days or less before the training commencement date. However, participants who are unable to attend may opt to attend a similar training course at a later date or send a substitute participant provided the participation criteria have been met.

Tailor Made Courses

This training course can also be customized for your institution upon request for a minimum of 5 participants. You can have it conducted at our Training Centre or at a convenient location. For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588 or Email training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com

Accommodation and Airport Transfer

Accommodation and Airport Transfer is arranged upon request and at extra cost. For reservations contact the Training Officer on Email: training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com or on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588