Version 1 of the FIGARO decision-support platform presented in Rome
From 19 to 21 January 2015 FAO hosted the partners in Rome, where the first full version of the platform (V1) was shown.
V1 ran as an online service. It ran established crop models at regular intervals and sent farmers recommendations for irrigation and fertiliser schedules, worked out for their crop, soil, water and climate. Data came in automatically or by hand from:
- soil moisture probes and water meters;
- weather stations;
- satellite images.
At the start of the project's third year, the consortium reported that field tests in nine countries showed higher water productivity, lower total irrigation volumes, and in some cases less fertiliser and higher yields.
The partners also planned the next test campaigns and a series of workshops with farmers. A new sensor and several data applications were presented at the meeting.