At KrishiGK, we think that farmers and technology should collaborate to address actual agricultural problems. Although satellites allow us to see crops from above, this information needs to be linked to what is actually occurring in the field in order to be accurate and useful. The foundation of every trustworthy agriculture advice system is this procedure, which is known as ground truthing.
What is Ground Truthing?
Ground truthing is the process of checking satellite data against what you can see on the ground. Satellites can see the colour, moisture, and growth patterns of crops from space. However, field visits, soil samples, and feedback from farmers are needed to make sure these readings are accurate.
For example:
- A satellite may show a drop in NDVI (vegetation health index). Ground truthing can tell us whether it is due to water stress, pest attack, nutrient deficiency, or simply crop harvesting.
- Thermal sensors may indicate high canopy temperature. Field checks confirm if the crop is genuinely under drought stress or if it’s a different local factor.
Why Ground Truthing is Crucial in KrishiGK
- Accuracy of Advisory
- Without ground truthing, satellite data may misinterpret crop stress.
- By verifying with farmers and agronomists, KrishiGK ensures trustworthy advisories.
- Local Context
- Satellite data is global, but farming is local.
- Ground truthing brings in details about local crop varieties, irrigation practices, and soil conditions.
- Farmer Trust
- Farmers act on advice only if it matches their field reality.
- When KrishiGK combines satellite insights with ground observations, farmers gain confidence in the recommendations.
- Model Improvement
- Every time ground truthing is done, the AI models behind KrishiGK learn and become more precise for future predictions.
How KrishiGK Uses Ground Truthing
- Farmer Feedback Loops: Farmers share field photos and crop conditions through KrishiGK’s network.
- Agronomist Field Visits: Local experts validate satellite alerts with soil and crop samples.
- Community Reporting: Village-level data collection helps compare satellite signals with on-ground realities.
- Continuous Learning: Verified field data is fed back into KrishiGK’s system to improve accuracy of future advisories.
The Way Forward
Satellite data is powerful, but without ground truthing, it is incomplete. At KrishiGK, we integrate the sky’s view with the farmer’s view to deliver practical, localized, and trustworthy advisories. This hybrid approach ensures that technology not only looks at crops from above but also understands them at the ground level – right where farming truly happens.
Because for us, the best advisory is the one that works in the farmer’s field, not just on a satellite image.
