By Simon Kobia
John Gituma, large scale wheat, canola, and barley producer in Kisima in Meru, is one of the farmers who have adopted aerial crop spraying to combat diseases and pests.
Gituma and some farmers said they decided to deploy drones to spray their crops, after weighing the advantages of the new technology which comes with more efficiency and saves a great deal of time.
Whereas the farmers had in the past depended on a big number of casual workers to spray their crops, the drones have come in handy, as work is faster and the application of fertilizer and other chemicals takes a much shorter time.
Using the drones to spray crops, said Gituma, cuts costs, time, labor, and other production expenses, factors that have changed the way he is doing farming now.
“After doing research on the internet about aerial spraying, I realized it is the new solution to increasing my canola, wheat, and barley yields. I have been using a tractor to spray my farms, and a lot of crops were damaged by the huge wheels as it is wont to happen. With drones, trampling of crops is zero,” Gituma said.
Gituma said with drones, there is no wastage of chemicals and water, and work is done faster-what farmers need to maximize production.
“To spray big farm farmers have to employ many workers but using drones is not only cheaper but faster. They do not destroy crops as tractors and workers do while spraying,” he added, as a drone hovered around his farm.
Gituma, one of the largest farmers in the Buuri area which hosts large scale wheat, barley, canola, flowers, and other crops, said as farmers, they had discovered adopting new technology is the way to go to boost production.
Clement Mwiti, a large scale Irish Potato farmer, said with he uses fewer pesticides with drones, as the aerial vehicles had simplified the spraying of crops, as the drones are computerized.
Mr Mwiti said it was hard for a farmer to spray the entire land, but a drone is able to do it after an area has been mapped.
“As a farmer, I know it is difficult to spray fertilizers and pesticides on bare land or land with plants. There is always going to be an area that farmers do not spray. But with a drone, not an inch is left,” he said.
Nicholas Sang, an agronomist with Lano Company who have mainly been based in the agricultural-rich North Rift, said they had been using the drones to combat the locusts’ menace in different parts of Kenya, but they now want to assist farmers to adopt it after they acquire the relevant license to do so.
Mr Sang said it would cost a farmer an average of Sh800 to have one acre sprayed with a drone.
Sang said the drone carries a 16-liter container capable of covering a six-acre parcel.
The machine can cover 10 hectares within one hour, he said, vouching for its efficiency and effectiveness in farms.
“Farmers have challenges with pests and diseases. A drone is more efficient and effective, and much cheaper to use for big and smaller-scale farmers,” he added.
Alfred Mutai, a drone operator, said the drone is automated, hence will come back to be refilled with chemicals, or if the battery runs low.
“This is the best solution for farmers to eradicate diseases and pests, especially because it is affordable,” Mutai said.
