from ADANE BIKILA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ethiopia Bureau
ADDIS ABABA, (CAJ News) – ETHIOPIA is incorporating drones to boost agricultural production and preserve the environment in the disaster-prone country.
In a landmark partnership, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has handed over nine surveying drones to the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands.
The drones are designed to bring practical solutions to farmers and communities across the country and according to experts, with their advanced sensors, they can estimate crop yields even before harvest, giving farmers a clearer picture of what to expect and how to plan ahead.
“These drones will give the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands powerful tools to better serve farmers across Ethiopia,” Worknesh Mekonnen, UNOPS regional director, said.
She was speaking at the handover late Tuesday.
Mekonnen said by helping the ministry monitor crops, water use, and livestock more effectively, the drones would support smarter decisions that directly benefit rural communities.
“Our partnership is about providing the Ministry with the necessary support in key areas, enabling it to play a stronger role in advancing Ethiopia’s national strategy for enhanced productivity, food security and sustainable development.”
Farmers can also monitor crop health, spotting early signs of pests or disease that might otherwise go unnoticed until too late, while in irrigation and soil management, the drones help prevent common challenges like water loss, fertilizer waste or equipment failures that can damage plants and reduce harvests.
The high-quality images they capture can also be transformed into vegetation maps, helping experts and farmers make better decisions about land use and crop rotation.
The drones are anticipated to support the wider rural environment by aiding forestry and wetland management.
The technology enables farmers to remotely check on their cattle, ensuring that livestock have safe grazing areas and access to water, making farming more efficient, sustainable, and resilient, helping farmers protect their livelihoods and secure food for their communities.
The East African country has recently suffered from recurrent cycles of both severe drought and devastating floods.
– CAJ News