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 in development. Table details are: Table 1: Relevance of Agricultural Policy Changes from Bhutan’s Five-Year Plans to Land-Use Dynamics Derived from the Farm Action Toolkit[This table outlines the alignment between Bhutan’s Five-Year Plans and FAcT-estimated cropland and paddy area dynamics (2002–2024), offering a data-driven perspective on how policies have influenced food security, climate resilience, and land management.] Table 2a & 2b: Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Cropland and Paddy Area in Bhutan (2002–2024): District-Wise Trends, Net Change, and Percentage of Total Land Area[This table presents the temporal dynamics of cropland and paddy area extent across Bhutan’s districts from 2002 to 2024, highlighting expansion, stability, and contraction patterns. For example, Zhemgang district shows values of 13,933 ha (2002) to 14,305 ha (2024).] Table 3: District-Level Trends in Cropland Net Primary Productivity (NPP) in Bhutan (2002–2021)[This table details cropland NPP (kgC/m²) trends across Bhutanese districts, revealing spatial and temporal variations critical for sustainable intensification and climate-resilient agricultural policies.] Table 4: Accuracy Assessment and Validation of Cropland and Paddy Area Mapping in Bhutan (2002–2024)[This table includes overall classification accuracy, user’s and producer’s accuracy, kappa statistics, and validation metrics (R² and RMSE) comparing FAcT estimates with government statistics and regional land cover datasets.] 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/