As resource scarcity and food insecurity intensify across Africa, precision agriculture — powered by technologies such as the Internet of Things, drones, GPS mapping, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence — is transforming how food is grown, monitored, and managed.
Abdel Aziz Belal, president of the African Society for Precision Agriculture and head of the Agriculture Application, Soil and Marine Division at Egypt’s National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, says advanced farming tools can shape a sustainable future for the continent.
These technologies can identify crop changes, detect pests, estimate yields, and determine the exact agricultural inputs a field needs at the right time and place, Belal says.
“Precision agriculture could also help countries facing drought by using advanced tools such as smart irrigation,” he says. “Wireless sensors linked to satellites can determine the water needs of crops and measure soil moisture, reducing water waste.”
From drones to data in Nigeria
In Nigeria, drone technology entrepreneur Femi Adekoya — known as “the flying farmer” — uses unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor crops and train others in agritech. He is the founder of Integrated Aerial Precision, which provides drone and data services for agriculture, and the Precision Field Academy, which trains professionals in drones, GIS, remote sensing, AI, and other farming technologies.
“The only way to sustainably feed our growing population is for agriculture to embrace smart solutions,” Adekoya says. “Drones remove guesswork, ensure resources are used only where needed, and help detect problems early, preventing significant yield losses.”
Closing the gender gap in Kenya
Pamela Pali, a senior scientist at the African Plant Nutrition Institute in Kenya, says making precision agriculture a reality in Africa requires addressing gender inequality.
Women perform up to 75% of farming in some regions but own only 16% of registered land in Uganda, according to the 2024 Afrobarometer report. Limited land rights, scarce access to agricultural extension services, and low digital connectivity keep many women from adopting new tools.
Pali says bundled solutions — such as combining advisory services, digital finance, and online marketplaces — could remove barriers, but require cross-sector collaboration. She also stresses the need to design agricultural platforms that work regardless of literacy level, digital skills, or physical ability.
Blending indigenous knowledge with tech in pastoral communities
In Kenya’s Samburu County, pastoralist Omar Madera uses AfriScout, an app that combines satellite data, community mapping, and local knowledge to locate pasture and water.
“Before AfriScout, we lost many animals and faced conflicts over resources,” Madera says. “Now we know where to migrate without disputes.”
Developed by Project Concern International, AfriScout began as paper vegetation maps for Ethiopian pastoralists. Within a year, 80% used them for migration decisions, reducing herd mortality by 47%.
The app works offline, overlays vegetation and water data on customary rangeland maps, and allows users to post geo-tagged alerts for disease, wildlife threats, or blocked grazing areas. It has helped pastoralists cut scouting trips by nearly three days, improve livestock health, and reduce conflict.
