Land Measurement Bias: Evidence Based on the Validation Exercise of the Area Under Paddy Cultivation in Bhutan Using Three Different Measurement Techniques Vis-à-Vis Farmer Self-report (FSR),Global Positioning System (GPS) and Google Estimate

Abstract

We investigate how land measurements vary across three distinct land measurement techniques—farmers’ self-reported data, Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements, and Google estimates from remotely sensed satellite data—in Bhutan. The findings reveal a lack of significant differences between GPS and Google measurements across five key paddy-growing districts. However, the study identifies a noteworthy bias in farmers’ self-reported data relative to GPS measures. This bias is evident in both the levels and logarithmic representations of land area, with farmers tending to over-report for smaller-sized plots and underreport for larger-sized plots.