Government to buy agriculture drones

Midlands Bureau Chief

GOVERNMENT is set to buy 10 agricultural drones to fight birds , pests and diseases that threaten crops, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka has said.

Drone cameras spot pests and birds in fields and the technology will be launched to drive off the avian irritants and spray chemicals to kill them.

In an interview, Dr Masuka said the agriculture sector is important to the country as it is the backbone and foundation of the economy.

“We are in the process of buying 10 long range agriculture drones that are able to cover 100 km to mitigate against the surge in birds, pests and diseases that threaten the winter wheat and the summer crop.

So in future when an outbreak for example of Quelea birds occurs here (Kwekwe), we will be able to launch from Gweru,” said Dr Masuka.

He said the Government was working on having provincial response centres that are coordinated from the national centre to fight pests, birds and diseases that threaten the crops.