Small area estimation of crop yield using remote sensing satellite data

General crop yield estimation surveys are conducted throughout the country for estimating crop yield of all major crops. In an earlier study satellite spectral data has been used along with survey data to develop a more efficient post-stratified estimator of crop yield which suggested that with the use of satellite data along with crop yield data, it is possible to develop small area estimates of crop yield at tehsil/block level with the existing sampling design. In the present study small area estimates at tehsil (Subadministrative Unit) level for the Rohtak district, Haryana, India, for the period 1995-1996 were developed using crop yield data based on crop cutting experiments and satellite spectral data from the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite IRS-1B-LISS-II for 17 February 1996.