Agriculturalists are facing the lands they have worked with for decades with a new perspective. The climate crisis has rendered some topsoil arid or acidic, forcing farmers to adapt with technologies and tactics to compensate for these challenges. New farmers seeking property are facing high costs and environmental restrictions as well. It has compelled industry innovators to devise new methods for managing farmland in Africa. These are some of the most notable up-and-coming examples of tech tools that can help workers excel amid uncertainty.
AfriScout Is the Eye in the Sky
Maintaining a healthy herd and pasture would be simpler if farmers had survey drones to oversee the land’s lushness and potential. Observing the grazing behaviors of countless acres can be a time-consuming task, which is why developers created the AfriScout app to supplement these efforts. The app gathers information from satellites to help ranchers manage their herds more effectively.
Long gone are the days of overgrazing. Ethiopian pastoralists have reported 47% drops in herd mortality rates, and Kenyan farmers have more easily located water sources. This sends workers into a new generation of land scouting, relying less on word-of-mouth transmission. As available lands become smaller every year, it makes the industry more competitive. Using an objective resource, like a satellite map, design a more straightforward route to success and environmental resilience.
Geospatial information services (GIS) are a vital component of many of these tech tools. They can map the land, but they can also generate environmental impact analyses to see how their practices will affect crops over time. They can also use this data to identify areas that are high-risk or prone to natural disasters.
AKILIMO Is a Digital Agronomist for Higher Yields
From the Swahili meaning “smart agriculture,” AKILIMO is a consulting service curated for smallholder farmers. Every recommendation is backed by data to help everyone make the most informed decisions for the season. This includes what to plant, harvesting times and fertilizing quantities. It considers every farmer’s unique circumstances and land qualities to provide the most likely path to success. This could lead to more reliable profits, as the personalization also takes into account the region’s weather and soil characteristics.
Nigerian farmers specializing in maize-cassava intercropping have made operations more productive and lucrative. It also focuses on sustainable agricultural methods to enhance food security and promote greater gender equity in the sector. An estimated 22,000 farmers have benefited from this service, with 31% identifying as women. This is crucial for establishing fairness in land management across Africa, as more women should feel empowered using these tools to become more competitive.
Regreening Africa Is the Agroforestry Partner
Regreening Africa is a mobile tool that recommends the best trees to plant on the farm. It introduces topics for beginners and experts alike, educating everyone on nursery management, erosion prevention and income generation as a budding agronomist. It focuses on farmer-managed natural regeneration techniques, including mapping plots and geotagging trees. Regreening Africa enables farmers to enter a new vertical without feeling concerned about the accuracy of implementation.
The application is part of the broader Regreening Africa initiative, spanning eight countries, including Mali, Ghana, Senegal and others. Over its five years, the project will restore one million hectares along the continent’s Great Green Wall. A project officer from Oxfam Mali celebrated its impact, saying, “The beauty about this app is its simplicity. I have used it to record trees on many farms and have been fascinated to see what the data looks like once it is processed.” Thousands of farmers could see their lands flourish as this unfolds.
Farmonaut Is the Precision Agriculture Assistant
The Farmonaut platform is a monitoring tool that leverages satellites and remote sensing to provide accurate overviews of agricultural properties. Workers can use it to identify regions of the farm that are experiencing healthy growth cycles or where pests may impact yields. The tool’s goal is to increase workers’ awareness of their land, enabling them to execute early interventions and mitigate the most adverse influences.
The organization also helps farmers reimagine their lands with sustainability in mind. Its research demonstrates that South Africa could see 30% productivity increases from its precision-farming insights. Arid regions could utilize it for smarter irrigation, saving water even during droughts.
Additionally, Farmonaut provides market insights, helping farmers in every country by having access to real-time weather information, disease notifications and regional experts. Being connected across borders will help everyone’s stability, in addition to crop and animal health. For example, detecting early signs of disease in a neighboring country could prompt protective measures before the disease reaches an individual’s land. This isolates threats to farmers and prevents widespread destruction that could jeopardize the continent’s economic well-being.
How Technology Makes Land Prosper
Managing current and prospective farmlands is an additional responsibility to overseeing harvests and herds. Changes in geographical and climate behaviors make this even more complex. Using data and technology has never been more vital for agricultural workers to remain in business. Farmers in Africa who adopt these tech tools could experience peace of mind, despite potential challenges. Embracing the future could revolutionize the continent’s agricultural horizons to be more resilient, profitable and productive for years to come.
