From 22 to 24 January 2025, the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) Secretariat, in collaboration with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC), and Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), successfully conducted the Inception Workshops, the first Seminars for Executive Officials, and the first Hands-on Training Courses for Agricultural Statisticians and Technical Staff in Bangkok and Chonburi Province.

The event, which kicked off on January 22, 2025, at GISTDA Headquarters in Bangkok, featured a seminar titled “Improvement of Rice Paddy Area Statistics and Damage Assessment using Earth Observation Satellites for ASEAN.” Dr. Pakorn Apaphan, Director of GISTDA, Dr. Shinichi Sobue from JAXA, and Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, AFSIS Manager, delivered opening remarks. The seminar focused on exploring innovative methods to enhance the efficiency of rice cultivation statistics, specifically through the use of space technology for monitoring rice cultivation areas

Key discussions included an introduction to ALOS-2 satellite technology, the INAHOR (International Asian Harvest mOnitoring System for Rice), and the use of Earth observation satellites to improve agricultural management and decision-making. The system, developed under the JAXA project, offers powerful tools for estimating rice production and evaluating flood damage, which are vital for timely food security responses.

From January 23 to 24, the event moved to Sriracha in Chonburi Province, where hands-on training courses were held for agricultural statisticians and technical staff at the GISTDA Training Center. These sessions provided participants with practical skills in using the INAHOR system. Training included installing and setting up key software tools, such as Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS), Google Earth Pro, and Google Earth Engine. Attendees also learned how to configure the INAHOR system and use its features to estimate rice cultivation areas.

This workshop is the first meeting under the Project for Strengthening the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) Function for Emergency (SAFER) and the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) project. The cooperation of ASEAN member countries made this meeting a success. The results of this workshop and the comments received from member countries were used to improve the operation of the INAHOR information technology system.