By Sukoluhle Ndlovu
Zimbabwe is turning to drones and other digital technologies to help farmers detect crop problems early, manage pests and apply fertiliser more efficiently as the country battles the effects of climate change and seeks to boost food production.
From mapping soils and monitoring crops to scouting for pests and estimating yields, drones are increasingly becoming part of the tools being used to give farmers a clearer picture of what is happening in their fields.
Speaking at Barwick Farm in Nyabira, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Professor Obert Jiri said the technology could help transform the way farming is done in the country.
“Through the Agricultural Development Authority (ADA), Government is now working to build capacity among farmers to use drones in their farming operations. The drones are being used for a range of activities, including fertiliser application, pest management, crop monitoring, soil mapping, pest scouting, crop condition assessment, land mapping, aerial imaging and yield estimation,” he said.
For farmers facing unpredictable weather, prolonged dry spells and pest outbreaks, the technology could provide an important advantage by helping them identify problems before they become major threats to their crops.
Prof Jiri said smallholder farmers should not be left behind in the push towards technology-driven agriculture.
“The move is part of a wider shift towards digital agriculture, with technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics and remote sensing offering new ways of collecting and interpreting information to support agricultural decision-making. We therefore encourage smallholder farmers to also harness AI and technology by collaborating to access drone services,” he added.
The use of drones is also expected to support early warning and early action, allowing farmers to respond more quickly to crop stress, pest infestations and other threats that could affect production.
This comes as Zimbabwe continues to feel the pressure of climate change, with farmers having to contend with changing weather patterns and dry spells that threaten harvests and, ultimately, the country’s food security.
With the right technology, farmers can access better information about the condition of their crops and make informed decisions before problems become too costly to reverse.
Prof Jiri said the adoption of technology and AI was critical as the country moves towards a more climate-smart agricultural sector and seeks to strengthen food security.
For farmers, the shift means technology is no longer something confined to offices or laboratories. It is gradually making its way into the fields, where a drone in the sky could help determine what needs to be done on the ground—and, in the process, help protect the harvests Zimbabwe needs to feed its people.
