Kenyan farmers are witnessing a technological shift in crop management with drones now able to spray one acre in just seven minutes, significantly reducing the time and labor traditionally required.
Alex Mugane, a drone service provider, shared insights during Co-op Bank's 24th Youth Forum on July 24, highlighting the efficiency of drones in agriculture. A drone equipped with a 30-litre tank can cover up to three acres in one flight, while a 50-litre tank covers five acres, making it more effective than manual knapsack spraying.
Cost and Efficiency
- Spraying costs approximately Ksh1,000 per acre.
- Mapping and crop analysis services range from Ksh2,000 to Ksh10,000 per acre, depending on farm size.
Beyond spraying, drones serve as advanced data collection tools using NDVI and RGB imaging to assess crop health by measuring chlorophyll levels. This data, analyzed with artificial intelligence, helps farmers identify stressed crops early, optimize interventions, and monitor soil moisture and irrigation efficiency.
Farm mapping capabilities assist in planning investments such as water dams by providing accurate field data.
Collective Access and Future Outlook
Mugane recommends that farmer groups and cooperatives pool resources to access drone services collectively rather than investing individually, making the technology more accessible.
Digital Agriculture Expert Janet Kariuki noted that drones are transforming extension services by replacing time-consuming physical farm inspections with rapid digital assessments, enabling farmers to receive timely information and make informed decisions quickly.
