Development of a Personalized Geographic Information System (PGIS) for Precision Agriculture to Optimise Rice Production and Increase Its Yield in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

In this research, the development of a Personalized Geospatial Information System (PGIS) is presented to improve rice production in Ebonyi State of Nigeria. This research attempts to address crucial factors influencing rice production namely; decreasing soil fertility, unpredictable climatic patterns and inefficient use of resources. Integrating secondary spatial data; remote sensing techniques and GIS-based spatial analysis, this research develops a system framework to give spatially specific recommendation on how rice production could be increased and made more sustainable for rice farmers in Ebonyi State. In the research, the current status of rice production in Ebonyi State using existing agricultural data and critical soil and crop specific climatic parameters; moisture, biomass and rainfall distribution were reviewed. Remote sensing (Sentinel-1 SAR images), soil maps and climate data was acquired and analyzed to determine variations and distributions of the specified variables and their potential influence on rice production. The relation between variables and rice production were statistically analyzed through correlation and regression. A PGIS framework concept was created, utilizing tools such as decision trees and farm-specific recommendations that can optimize use of resources like; water, fertilizer and labor. The system guides the farmer to arrive at decisions related to irrigation schedules, optimum fertilization levels and crop health management and also promotes sustainability by providing environmentally conscious advice so as to decrease environmental issues like water pollution and soil erosion. It is clear that using a PGIS can drastically improve rice production in Ebonyi State; improve management of resources, optimum utilization of inputs and an increase in yield as well as providing sustainability by reducing wastes and enabling efficiency of practice. This shows that utilizing modern techniques like GIS and remote sensing can be used to transform rice farming in Nigeria, thus enhancing food security and the economy. By providing farmer with individualized recommendations and up-to-date information, the PGIS framework can facilitate evidencebased planning, decision and policy formulation, ensuring the long-term sustainability of rice farming in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.