Rice and fish, Senegal
Estimating rice yield from drone and satellite imagery in Senegal fields stocked with fish.
Farmers in the Senegal River valley are testing fish in their rice fields: the fish eat the snails that carry schistosomiasis and can add income. The question for farmers is whether rice yield holds up.
I use drone and satellite imagery from the 2025 season to estimate yield field by field and to spot problems such as weeds, bare patches and uneven water. Partners in Senegal fly the drone surveys; I lead the analysis, from calibrating the imagery to the deep learning and statistical models that estimate yield and flag problem areas. Results will be shared once they’re published.