The project Eyes in the Sky, Smart Techs on the Ground proclaimed as the Winner of the WSIS 2020 prize in the category E-Agriculture

News by Giacomo Rambaldi

By embodying components like scientific research, proof of concept initiatives, capacity building, support to investment, enterprise development, networking, experience capitalisation and communication, the Eyes in the Sky, Smart Techs on the Ground project, funded and supported by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), started transforming Africa’s agriculture into a high-tech industry, with decisions being based on real-time gathering and processing of data, productivity and yields.

The establishment of 38 rapidly expanding, youth-led enterprises offering drone-based services in 21 African countries, represents a significant development for the continent and a milestone for the building of the African Information Society. Started at the end of 2016, this project caught the attention of young entrepreneurs who were selected via a competitive processes, trained, and technically and financially supported in offering drone-based services to farmers’ organisations, agribusinesses, government, international development agencies and other parties.

A December 2019 survey confirmed that the enterprises have been recruiting staff, investing in new equipment, increasing their turnover and client portfolio. A non-for-profit industry association, known as Africa Goes Digital Inc has been established to support further growth of the enterprises and enable members to group, offer diverse services and be more competitive. Close to 30,000 small-scale farmers benefitted from drone-based services provided by AfGD members during the year 2019.

The project played an important role in establishing an enabling environment for the technology. It supported the African Union’s appointed High Level African Panel on Emerging Techs in selecting “drones for precision agriculture” as one of the most promising technologies which would foster Africa’s development. In Jan 2018 the AU Executive Council recommended that all Member States harness the opportunities offered by drones for agriculture. A full report entitled “Drones on the horizon: Transforming Africa’s Agriculture” was launched at the Africa Innovation Summit in Kigali (6/6/18). Project implementers co-authored the report and have been advising national civil aviation authorities in developing regulations for the responsible use of drones.

On 7 September 2020, during the WSIS Prizes 2020 Ceremony, The project was declared as the Winner of the WSIS Action Line category E-Agriculture.