With the Kenyan agricultural sector contributing about 22 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the sector urgently needs transformation from conventional ways of growing food to modern approaches.
According to Agricultural experts, precision agriculture, is at the centre of the debate on use of drones in agribusinesses and is being touted as one of the most efficient ways to enhance productivity and in reducing operational costs in the agricultural sector.
According to Director of the Graduate School at Egerton University, Professor Charles M’Erimba, Kenyan farmers need to be encouraged to adopt the use of drones, for precision agriculture, which is a modern approach that enhances efficiency, sustainability and productivity.
Speaking at the Njoro Main Campus, when Egerton University launched its inaugural Agricultural Drone Pilots Training Programme, Professor M’Erimba said the initiative is part of the Institution’s broader vision, to modernise agriculture in the country.
The Don stated that training on the use of agricultural drones, will empower farmers to better manage pests, diseases and other challenges afflicting crop production.
He indicated that the introduction of drone technology training in the learning institution, was a milestone in nurturing the new generation of farmers.
While saying that drones had primarily been used for surveillance in security, Professor M’Erimba said their application in agriculture, is an interesting development that is set to revolutionise farming and make work easier for farmers.
Already, several large-scale farmers and agribusiness companies in Kenya, have adopted drone technology in their operations. However, operating drones, whether for private or commercial purposes, requires compliance with regulations set by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
Under the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations 2020, all operators must undergo a structured certification process. In addition, users are required to obtain a license from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), before they can legally operate drones in the country.
Professor M’Erimba stated that the University seeks to equip students pursuing agriculture and related courses, alongside farmers and agricultural experts, with hands-on, modern technical skills.
The initiative is supported by the Agricultural Industry Association of Kenya (AAK), Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev), Centre for Integrated Water and Basin Management (CIWAB), Hallo Tractors, Versadrones, the Ogiek Peoples’ Development Programme and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
Professor M’Erimba pointed out that drones, as essential tools in modern agriculture, allow farmers to monitor crop health through aerial imaging, adding that they can be used to detect pest or disease infestations at an early stage and assess water stress using multispectral cameras.
“The device also supports farmland mapping, irrigation management, and the precise application of fertilisers and pesticides, to minimise wastage of inputs. Drone technology is fast becoming a critical tool in precision agriculture, and Egerton University is positioning itself at the forefront of building capacity in this emerging field,” noted the Don.
The Drone technology, the Don added, was revolutionising agriculture in Kenya through early detection of pests and diseases, precision spraying of fertilisers and pesticides, and farm mapping and surveying for better resource management.
And by providing real-time data, he explained that drones would promote precision farming, that is helping farmers make informed decisions, improve yields, cut costs, and adopt more sustainable practices.
“It is much easier to farm with drones, since they are sophisticated and can serve over 100 acres within a short period,” he added.
Professor of Agronomy at Egerton University, Antony Kibe, highlighted the significance of integrating drone technology with evolving crop management practices.
He underscored the need to use drones for proper fertiliser application, tailored to different soil types, both alkaline and acidic, so that nutrients can be effectively absorbed by crops.
Professor Kibe who represented TAGDev at the launch of the training, noted that foliar fertiliser application has gained traction in recent agricultural discussions, and drones have proven to be efficient tools in delivering fertilisers directly to crop canopies.
“If you can fly a drone and apply fertiliser on a crop that has essentially covered the ground, then you shall have efficiently helped the fertiliser application,” Prof Kibe added.
He emphasised that drone technologies complement government programmes aimed at enhancing fertiliser use in farming. He further observed that drone-based solutions, are especially beneficial to elderly farmers, who often struggle with manual field operations.
Professor Kibe highlighted the importance of modernising Kenya’s agricultural sector. He noted that drones will play a critical role in combating pests, diseases, and other challenges that limit productivity.
According to the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) drones cut pesticide use by up to 30 percent, reduce water needs by 40 percent and compress spraying time from several days into a few hours.
The Institute notes that a drone can cover 10 acres in an hour, ten times faster than manual labour, and fertiliser applied more precisely can save between Sh1,500 to 2,500 per acre. It also indicates that only about 5 to 7 percent of smallholder farmers in Kenya, currently access drone services leaving many excluded.
A single drone costs between Sh600,000 to Sh1.5 million, which is prohibitive without external support.
However, Professor Kibe asserted that the technology must be promoted, as it was one way of making farming more attractive to young people, by rendering it less laborious and more technologically advanced.
Programme Coordinator of Centre for Integrated Water and Basin Management (CIWAB), Dr Patrick Wamalwa, noted that drones are vital modern tools in addressing challenges posed by climate change, such as drought and climate-stressed plants, vulnerable to pests and diseases.
Dr Wamalwa said the training programme was designed to empower professionals, university dons, community members from various counties and students to implement technology-driven farming systems, that respond to the global demand for food security and environmental efficiency.
Besides increased yields, he noted that drones allow for more efficient use of water and labour, thus reducing farming costs. Additionally, he said, they help to lower greenhouse gas emissions, owing to their less fuel requirement compared to heavier, motorised farm equipment such as tractors.
“Drones capture high resolution and timely farm imagery, providing data that is important in making decisions in farm management decisions,” Dr Wamalwa said.
He stated that drone farming will play an important role in food agriculture in Kenya and Africa at large, where purchase of modern farming equipment, is an expensive undertaking, which renders them inaccessible to many.
“I believe utilising drones to apply herbicides and different pesticides against pests and disease, would take Kenyan agriculture to a new level,” he said.
Dr Wamalwa observed that spotting pests and diseases on a farm, was sometimes challenging owing to the large acreage, adding that drones were able to spot any changes in the crops for immediate and relevant interventions, but it is their flexibility that makes them even more attractive.
“Drones are ideal to fly in areas with difficult terrain, where traditional farm machinery may not access,” Dr Wamalwa indicated.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Egerton University, Professor Japheth Onyando, said real-time data from drones, allows farmers to make quick, informed decisions to optimise crop management and respond to climate-related threats like droughts.
Professor Onyando indicated that adoption of drone-use will enable farmers make better decisions based on the spatial information, the data and drone images on suitable places to do what type of farming and get crucial information on crop health analysis and precision farming.
In precision agriculture, he said drones create highly detailed maps of farmland, including soil type and topography.
He elaborated that the data can be used to plan planting and harvesting schedules, optimise irrigation and fertiliser usage, and manage pests and diseases more effectively.
Professor Onyando observed that drones give farmers information to help boost agricultural production as they can tell the type of soil in the area, the moisture content and nutrients the soil could be lacking.
by Esther Mwangi
