An IoT-Based Autonomous Robot System for Maize Precision Agriculture Operations in Sub-Saharan Africa

Agriculture and agribusinesses suffer from many challenges, despite their significance to global economic growth. One of the challenges is the lack of appropriate technology to drive the industry to the next level of development. This technological gap contributes to reduced yield and profit without a reduction in manual labour, cost, and stress. Robotics have been explored to boost agricultural production and improve agribusiness productivity. Several weed control robots have been developed for research and field uses, but these systems are not suitable for weed control in large commercial farms or lack control schemes for navigation and weed control. This study presents the design of an autonomous robot system for chemical weed control. The system uses control theory, artificial intelligence, and image processing to navigate a farm environment, identify weeds, and apply herbicide where necessary. Upon implementation and adoption, this system would increase agricultural productivity with minimal human input, thereby leading to an increase in revenue and profit for agribusinesses.

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Precision Agriculture for Resource Use Efficiency in Smallholder Farming Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13031158 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 1158

Author(s):

Cecilia M. Onyango ◽

Justine M. Nyaga ◽

Johanna Wetterlind ◽

Mats Söderström ◽

Kristin Piikki

Keyword(s):

Resource Use ◽

Precision Agriculture ◽

Large Scale ◽

English Language ◽

Management Practices ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

Sub Saharan

Opportunities exist for adoption of precision agriculture technologies in all parts of the world. The form of precision agriculture may vary from region to region depending on technologies available, knowledge levels and mindsets. The current review examined research articles in the English language on precision agriculture practices for increased productivity among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 7715 articles were retrieved and after screening 128 were reviewed. The results indicate that a number of precision agriculture technologies have been tested under SSA conditions and show promising results. The most promising precision agriculture technologies identified were the use of soil and plant sensors for nutrient and water management, as well as use of satellite imagery, GIS and crop-soil simulation models for site-specific management. These technologies have been shown to be crucial in attainment of appropriate management strategies in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of resource use in SSA. These technologies are important in supporting sustainable agricultural development. Most of these technologies are, however, at the experimental stage, with only South Africa having applied them mainly in large-scale commercial farms. It is concluded that increased precision in input and management practices among SSA smallholder farmers can significantly improve productivity even without extra use of inputs.

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Precision agriculture research in sub-Saharan Africa countries: a systematic map

Precision Agriculture ◽

10.1007/s11119-020-09780-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Justine M. Nyaga ◽

Cecilia M. Onyango ◽

Johanna Wetterlind ◽

Mats Söderström

Keyword(s):

Precision Agriculture ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Systematic Map ◽

Sub Saharan

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Exploring the Challenges Posed by Regulations for the Use of Drones in Agriculture in the African Context

Land ◽

10.3390/land10020164 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 164 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Matthew Ayamga ◽

Bedir Tekinerdogan ◽

Ayalew Kassahun

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Precision Agriculture ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Survey Study ◽

Civil Aviation ◽

African Countries ◽

Agriculture Sector ◽

Remotely Piloted Aircraft ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Aerial Observation

Global food demands have led to the rapid introduction of Information Communication Technology (ICT) innovations in the agriculture sector—one such innovation is drone technology. Drones are used in precision agriculture, including aerial observation, sensing, and the spraying of pesticides. Regulations on the use of drones are necessary because drones can violate privacy rules, data protection rights, and public peace. However, many African countries have either very restrictive regulations, or no proper regulation in place, making the process of acquiring a license for drone operation cumbersome. In this study, we present the results of a literature review that explores the current drone regulations in Sub-Saharan Africa and the results of a systematic literature review (SLR) and survey study whereby we have interviewed the relevant stakeholders, in order to understand the challenges posed by the regulations to the effective use of drones for agriculture. The results indicate that the regulations contain about 40 to 85 per cent of the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) manual on Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPASs). In addition, whilst the SLR focused on the technology, safety, ethics and regulatory hurdles towards drones, the interviewees focused on the need for skill and awareness among the responsible authorities to enforce regulations, and the need for sustainability and participatory process in defining regulations.

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Agroecology, Information and Communications Technology, and Smallholders’ Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Journal of Asian and African Studies ◽

10.1177/0021909620912784 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 55 (8) ◽

pp. 1194-1208

Author(s):

Cheng Wei

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Food Security ◽

Natural Resources ◽

Precision Agriculture ◽

Information And Communications Technology ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Rural Populations ◽

Communications Technology ◽

Sustainable Rural Development ◽

Sub Saharan

As a bottom-up, grassroots paradigm for sustainable rural development, agroecology is particularly promising for smallholders in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. However, by adopting agroecology, smallholders will be challenged to take on new perspectives and compile and integrate different sourced information to innovate. Today’s fast evolving information and communications technology in sub-Saharan Africa represents great opportunities for rural populations to enhance the adoption and success of agroecology and to address their daunting challenges simultaneously while conserving, protecting and enhancing natural resources. Agroecology combined with information and communications technology will probably be smallholders’ “precision agriculture” in many developing countries to enhance their food security and livelihood.

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Leveraging Precision Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Theoretical Discourse

Shifting Patterns of Agricultural Trade ◽

10.1007/978-981-16-3260-0_21 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 491-509

Author(s):

Lukman Raimi ◽

Mirela Panait ◽

Ramotu Sule

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Precision Agriculture ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Sub Saharan

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Correction to: Precision agriculture research in sub-Saharan Africa countries: a systematic map

Precision Agriculture ◽

10.1007/s11119-021-09796-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Justine M. Nyaga ◽

Cecilia M. Onyango ◽

Johanna Wetterlind ◽

Mats Söderström

Keyword(s):

Precision Agriculture ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Systematic Map ◽

Sub Saharan

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RTS,S/AS01, a vaccine targeting pre-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20170101 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (6) ◽

pp. 533-537

Author(s):

Lorenz von Seidlein ◽

Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn ◽

Podjanee Jittmala ◽

Sasithon Pukrittayakamee

Keyword(s):

Protective Efficacy ◽

Age Groups ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Phase Iii ◽

European Medicines Agency ◽

Older Children ◽

Pivotal Phase ◽

Malaria Epidemiology ◽

Maximum Benefit ◽

Sub Saharan

RTS,S/AS01 is the most advanced vaccine to prevent malaria. It is safe and moderately effective. A large pivotal phase III trial in over 15 000 young children in sub-Saharan Africa completed in 2014 showed that the vaccine could protect around one-third of children (aged 5–17 months) and one-fourth of infants (aged 6–12 weeks) from uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The European Medicines Agency approved licensing and programmatic roll-out of the RTSS vaccine in malaria endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO is planning further studies in a large Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, in more than 400 000 young African children. With the changing malaria epidemiology in Africa resulting in older children at risk, alternative modes of employment are under evaluation, for example the use of RTS,S/AS01 in older children as part of seasonal malaria prophylaxis. Another strategy is combining mass drug administrations with mass vaccine campaigns for all age groups in regional malaria elimination campaigns. A phase II trial is ongoing to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the RTSS in combination with antimalarial drugs in Thailand. Such novel approaches aim to extract the maximum benefit from the well-documented, short-lasting protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01.

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