By Brandon Moss 

As resource scarcity and food insecurity intensify across Africa, precision agriculture is emerging as a transformative force in the continent’s farming systems. Powered by technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, GPS mapping, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence, this approach is reshaping how food is grown, monitored, and managed—bringing efficiency, resilience, and sustainability to the forefront.

Dr. 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, believes these tools are critical to Africa’s agricultural future. He notes that precision technologies can detect crop stress, identify pests, estimate yields, and determine the exact inputs needed for each field, at the right time and place.

“Precision agriculture could also help countries facing drought by using advanced tools such as smart irrigation,” Belal explains. “Wireless sensors linked to satellites can determine the water needs of crops and measure soil moisture, reducing water waste and improving productivity.”

In Nigeria, drone technology is taking root through the work of Femi Adekoya, an agritech entrepreneur widely known as “the flying farmer.” As founder of Integrated Aerial Precision and the Precision Field Academy, Adekoya provides drone and data services to farmers while training professionals in GIS, remote sensing, AI, and other smart farming tools.

“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.”
However, the benefits of precision agriculture are not equally accessible. In Kenya, Pamela Pali, a senior scientist at the African Plant Nutrition Institute, emphasizes the need to address 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.

Pali argues that bundled solutions—combining advisory services, digital finance, and online marketplaces—can help close the gap. She also stresses the importance of designing agricultural platforms that are inclusive, functioning regardless of literacy level, digital skills, or physical ability.

In Kenya’s Samburu County, pastoralist Omar Madera offers a compelling example of how indigenous knowledge can be enhanced through digital innovation. Using AfriScout, a mobile app developed by Project Concern International, Madera accesses satellite data and community maps to locate pasture and water, reducing conflict and improving herd health.

“Before AfriScout, we lost many animals and faced disputes over resources,” Madera says. “Now we know where to migrate without conflict.” The app overlays vegetation and water data on customary rangeland maps, works offline, and allows users to post geo-tagged alerts for disease, wildlife threats, or blocked grazing areas—cutting scouting trips by nearly three days and reducing herd mortality.