The project "Eyes in the Sky, Smart Techs on the Ground" shortlisted for WSIS 2020

by Giacomo, Rambaldi

The project “Eyes in the Sky, Smart Techs on the Ground” has been nominated for voting under the category AL C7. E-agriculture at the World Summit on the Information Society – WSIS Prizes 2020.

You are welcome to register with the WSIS community and cast your vote.

• Follow this link: http://bit.ly/WSIS2020-vote-now to know more on how to access the voting platform.
• The deadline for voting is 24 January 2020.

The voting period opened on the 21st of December 2019 and will close on the 24th of January 2020.

About the Eyes in the Sky, Smart Techs on the Ground

By embodying components like scientific research, proof of concept initiatives, capacity building, support to investment, enterprise development, networking, experience capitalisation & communication, this project has started transforming Africa’s agriculture into a high-tech industry, with decisions being based on real-time gathering and processing of data, productivity & 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 & 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, & technically & financially supported in offering drone-based services to farmers’ organisations, agribusinesses, government, international development agencies & other parties.

A June 2019 survey confirmed that the enterprises have been recruiting staff, investing in new equipment, increasing their turnover and client portfolio. An industry association (Africa Goes Digital Inc) as been established to support further growth of the enterprises and enable members to group, offer diverse services & be more competitive.

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 & have been advising national civil aviation authorities in developing regulations for the responsible use of drones.

Project website https://www.cta.int/en/projects/eyes-in-the-sky .