Rwanda using Drones to increase Agricultural Output for Smallholder Farmers

Charis Unmanned Aerial Solutions, a company by young Rwandan Nationals are demonstrating the potential of employing high-tech drones in driving agricultural output to Smallholder Farmers.

The demonstration exercise took place in the presence of central government officials and the locals.

A drone was used to spray insecticides on an Irish potato plantation in Gataraga Sector, Musanze District.

Smallholder Farmers gathered through the drone findings that they had been using poor farming practices.

The drone also provides useful information as it helps farmers detect the wrong mix of fertilizers, and advises on how to correct it.

Mammy Ingabire Muziga, the Managing Director of Charis Unmanned Aerial Solutions, said the aim of the project is to contribute toward the development of agriculture by helping farmers make informed decisions during the entire farming process.

“One of the things is that the Government is going to benefit a lot because with the use of drones we are able to provide a lot of important information required by both farmers and authorities,” she said.

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She added, “We are looking to creating profiles of farmers so that we can tell accurately the kind of intervention needed, the type of fertilizers and seeds required; all that information will help our leaders and farmers to make good decisions.”