Satellite mapping reveals complex patterns of agricultural intensification in the Sahel

Abstract

Abstract The scarcity of spatial data on agricultural intensification often results in a reliance on cropland expansion as the sole quantifiable variable for assessing food production, being especially the case for smallholder farming systems in drylands. Here, we demonstrate that a new generation of satellite data and computer science technologies can be applied to derive key cropping system metrics, used to categorize seven archetypes of cropping systems in western Sahel for the year 2019. On a large scale, we document a widespread existence of extensive, yet distinct different patterns of agricultural intensification. In Senegal, for instance, 67% of croplands experienced intensification with no obvious decline in soil fertility while in contrast, Niger experienced only 13% intensification. The variations between countries can be attributed to historical agrarian cultures and development trajectories. Our approach provides a step forward in identifying agricultural intensification of smallholder farmers in drylands, with the findings emphasizing the adaptability to local environmental conditions.