The role of remote sensing in natural resource management for poverty alleviation in the rural areas

Abstract

The role of remote sensing in poverty alleviation in rural communities is discussed through a simple decision making model. The model comprises the input, transfer function and output. The output is used as a basis for making management decisions that impact on the social well-being of the people. These decisions eventually controls poverty alleviation. Remote sensing is crucial in the input stages of the decision-making process and vital during the validation to ensure that the outputs are credible and thus may be used for proper management decisions. Particular examples are presented to show how remote sensing can be used as input in the decision making model. Agricultural produce matters are discussed and as input, all information that impacts on agricultural yield, are needed. These factors will be in all spheres that affect agriculture such as rainfall (hydrosphere and atmosphere), radiation (atmosphere), soil types (geosphere) and possibly the need for intercropping and shelterbelts (biosphere).