Farmers from Traditional Authority Kaomba in Kasungu District have welcomed DJI Agras T50 drones that Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) has introduced to help farmers carry out some activities using technology. The drones, procured under Luanar’s Transformative Agricultural Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (Tace) Centre, can spray herbicides, fertilisers and sow fodder seeds. In an interview on Monday, farmer Evangel Chima said modern farming requires people to embrace technology to improve efficiency.
He said: “Over the years, farmers have failed to expand their land because of lack of technological means to do so. “We are pleased that with the drones, farmers can apply fertilisers or sow seeds over a large land in an hour.” Speaking after testing the drones, Tace deputy director Associate Professor Grivin Chipula said the introduction of DJI Agras T50 drones marked a major step towards integrating advanced technology into Malawi’s farming sector. “The drones can spray herbicides, fertilisers and sow fodder seeds, which will help to reduce losses associated with manual application,” he said.
Chipula said the drones have the capacity to carry up to 50 litres and can spray about 21 hectares in under an hour, offering both precision and efficiency. “Apart from spraying, the machines also do research through field mapping and monitoring,” he said. On his part, Consultant Align Guide Executive managing director Ndapile Mkuwu, whose private firm provides drone pilots, said drone technology cuts labour time and re