Field-Scale Cropland and Paddy Area Maps for Bhutan (2002–2024) Produced Using the Farm Action Toolkit (FAcT)

This dataset provides annual, field-scale cropland and paddy extent maps for Bhutan from 2002 to 2024, developed using the Farm Action Toolkit (FAcT)—an open-access, satellite-based monitoring system designed to support agricultural decision-making in data-scarce, mountainous regions. The maps were generated from Landsat time-series imagery using a phenology-guided classification framework implemented on Google Earth Engine, combined with ground reference data and expert input from Bhutanese stakeholders.

These data products offer the first consistent, multi-year spatial assessment of cropland and rice dynamics across Bhutan, enabling analysis of land-use transitions, agricultural trends, and policy impacts over two decades. They directly support Bhutan’s Five-Year Strategic Plans and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing actionable insights for food security, land management, and climate resilience planning.

The dataset accompanies the research article titled:“Farm Action Toolkit Reveals Two Decades of Cropland Changes in Mountainous Bhutan for Sustainability.”

For full reproducibility, all preprocessing and classification code is available at:https://github.com/aparnaphalke/Farm-Action-Toolkit-FAcT-

An interactive visualization dashboard is available at:https://crops.servirglobal.net/