On 26-27 November 2024, Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, the AFSIS Manager, participated in the 30th session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-30), held in Perth, Australia. This event was co-organized by the Australian Space Agency (ASA), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The forum's focus was to bring together stakeholders from various space agencies in the Asia-Pacific region to address pressing regional issues through space-based solutions.
One of the key sessions, Satellite Applications for Societal Benefit (SAWG), aimed to promote and facilitate the use of space-based systems, such as Earth observation and navigation satellites, in conjunction with ground-based information. This approach seeks to address a wide range of common social issues in the region while fostering sustainable cooperation between space agencies, stakeholders, development aid organizations, and end-users.
During the SAWG session, Dr. Sumanya Ngandee delivered a presentation focused on the Satellite Applications for Crop Area Estimation and Growing Conditions for the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS).
She outlined the role of the Rice Growing Outlook (RGO) activities and the use of the INAHOR system (International Asian Harvest mOnitoring system for Rice) for estimating rice planted areas, which is a critical tool for tracking agricultural trends in the region. Her presentation also highlighted collaborations with key organizations, including JAXA, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), RESTEC (Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan) and GISTDA (Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency)
Furthermore, she emphasized the critical role of remote sensing technologies in providing accurate agricultural information to support food security decision-making. She also underscored the importance of capacity building in ASEAN region, such as workshops on rice mapping using the INAHOR system, which are essential for empowering local stakeholders to make data-driven decisions.
Her presentation highlighted not only the technological advances in satellite applications but also the vital need for regional cooperation and knowledge exchange she also expressed deep gratitude to the organizations involved in the SAFE Agromet Project, which aims to integrate satellite data and advance the use of remote sensing technologies into agricultural decision-making processes, ultimately strengthening food security in the region to ensure sustainable food security in ASEAN nations. The ongoing collaborations reflect a shared commitment to addressing common agricultural challenges through space-based solutions and human resource development in the use of satellite-derived agricultural information.
On Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 22:57 WITA, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, one of Indonesia’s 120 active volcanoes, erupted on the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province, The eruption, lasting 24 minutes (1,450 seconds), was recorded with a massive amplitude of 47.3 mm. According to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency, a strong eruption sent ash up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), affecting over 10,000 people. Smaller eruptions followed on November 5-6. In response, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) raised the volcano’s alert status to “Awas” (Level IV), indicating a high danger level.
On November 12, 2024, Dr. Sumanya Nagdee, AFSIS Manager, participated in the Completion and Handover Ceremony for the project "Establishing Real-Time ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) and Development of Human Resources 3rd Phase – Pilot Project on Strategic Crop Forecasting System for Food Security in Indonesia." The event, which took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, was supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea and This meeting was chaired by Ms. Intan Rahayu, Director of the Center of Agricultural Data and System Information (CADIS) under Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture, and Mr. An Jaerok, Vice President of EPIS from South Korea, along with representatives from various sectors.
According to the Mekong River Commission (MRC), heavy rain may cause flash floods and overflows, particularly in foothill and mountainous areas, affecting regions including Gia Lai and Kon Tum in Vietnam, as well as Bolikhamxay, Khammuane, Savannakhet, Salavane, Sekong, Champasak, and Attapeu in Laos, and Ratana Kiri and Stung Treng in Cambodia.
Severe Tropical Storm TRAMI (Local Name: Kristine) Causes Heavy Rainfall, Landslides and Widespread Flooding in the Philippines On October 22, 2024, Tropical Storm Kristine unleashed heavy rainfall, leading to severe flooding in multiple provinces. As of October 29, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported extensive damage to agricultural lands and infrastructure, prompting evacuations and relief efforts to assist affected communities. Local authorities are mobilizing resources to provide assistance and manage the unfolding disaster. As of October 30, the latest situation indicates that two cyclones struck the Philippines in quick succession, with Typhoon Leon entering the Philippine area of responsibility on October 26, just one day after Kristine departed.
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