Theseus Shambare in Victoria Falls
ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI), drone technology and precision farming are emerging as key drivers of agricultural transformation, with researchers from Zimbabwe and Malawi advocating greater adoption of digital innovations to improve productivity, manage climate risks and optimise the use of resources.
The technologies, which featured prominently in presentations at the ongoing 70th Congress of the Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco (CORESTA) in Victoria Falls, offer opportunities to modernise farming beyond traditional production methods.
Researchers say AI-powered systems, aerial imagery, sensors and digital diagnostic tools can help farmers make more informed decisions, from monitoring crop health and detecting diseases to determining irrigation requirements and applying agricultural inputs more precisely.
Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (ARET) chief executive officer, Dr Albert Changaya, from Malawi, said emerging technologies were providing opportunities to improve the efficiency of farming operations through more accurate and timely information.
“AI and aerial imagery, using drone technology can also help us to optimise operations,” he said.
Dr Changaya highlighted the importance of sensors and probes in monitoring soil moisture and weather conditions, allowing farmers to make informed decisions on irrigation and other critical production activities.
The integration of digital tools into agricultural operations, he said, could also improve the precision of fertiliser, herbicide and pesticide application, reducing unnecessary input use while supporting productivity.
In Zimbabwe, the Tobacco Research Board, through its research and extension institution Kutsaga, is also exploring scientific innovations to strengthen agricultural resilience and productivity.
Kutsaga chief executive officer Dr Frank Magama said the future of agricultural research would increasingly depend on the ability to anticipate emerging challenges and translate scientific findings into practical solutions for farmers.
“The next 25 years will not reward business as usual. They will reward anticipation, scientific agility and research translation and adoption,” he said.
The institution is developing predictive approaches that use weather variables and artificial intelligence to anticipate potential disease outbreaks, alongside research into climate-smart crop varieties.
Kutsaga executive director for Research and Extension Dr Susan Dimbi said the congress was providing an important platform for exchanging scientific knowledge and exploring technological developments affecting agricultural production.
“These discussions are important as the global tobacco industry navigates changing environmental conditions, technological developments, regulatory requirements and market expectations,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kutsaga’s research into biological agricultural inputs and improved crop varieties demonstrates how scientific innovation can complement digital technologies in addressing production challenges.
The research includes biofertilisers, which offer potential to reduce dependence on conventional chemical fertilisers, improve soil health and support more sustainable production systems.
However, Dr Dimbi said, the transition towards technology-driven agriculture will require investment in digital infrastructure, affordable equipment, technical skills and stronger extension services to ensure that smallholder farmers are not left behind.
Zimbabwe has already been exploring digital agriculture through the deployment of drones for pest surveillance and the digitisation of agricultural extension services.
The broader challenge now is to accelerate the adoption of these innovations across different agricultural value chains, ensuring that scientific advances translate into improved productivity, lower production costs and greater climate resilience.
“As climate variability, emerging crop diseases and rising input costs continue to challenge agricultural production, the discussions here, point to a future in which farming decisions will increasingly be informed by science, technology and real-time data,” said Dr Dimbi.
