Emmanuel Adou, a palm farmer, observes engineers preparing a drone on his farm in Sikensi, 80 km from Abidjan, the Ivorian economic capital. Emmanuel is one of the growing number of farmers who are turning to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology to boost agricultural production.
For him, the days of gruelling work in his plantation are over, since he sought the help of the Investiv group, an Ivorian company specializing in precision agriculture.
“In the past, we had to physically irrigate the farm, but today, with the new technology, we can irrigate crops from above using drones, as well as spray fertilizers from above, which is why I was very interested in this new technology, I wanted this company (Investiv Group) to work with us and help our workers,” says the farmer.
Precision agriculture integrates technologies such as drones, censors or GPS devices that allow farmers and researchers to monitor and optimize the growth of their crops while contributing to the conservation of resources such as water.
UAVs capture aerial images of crops and other farm characteristics. The data are then analyzed to identify crop types, potential yield and health, as well as to determine if the crops have been damaged by pests or weather conditions.
“When we talk about precision farming, it is really about being able to accurately identify and locate the areas of the farm that are likely to be problematic,” says Aboubacar Karim, head of the Investiv Group. “For example, based on the data received from the drone, we are able to assess the health of crops, or areas that need accelerated growth, and compare and contrast to determine if there are problems related to water irrigation, crop fertility, etc.”
While the African continent is ripe for innovation in the aerospace industry, the lack of technical skills remains a challenge. According to the World Bank, agriculture is an important driver of the Ivorian economy, accounting for 22% of GDP and more than 75% of exports.
