Greetings dear all,

I'm Marc Ghislain BAPPA from Cameroon. I'm not a drone practitioner but I have keen interest on Innovative ICT tools that can boost agricultural processes and practices.

   Drones are very practical and technological tools that eases farm management and highly contribute in modernizing the techniques and processes to follow the development of an agricultural commodity from the ground stage (field preparation) to the agriproduct stage (production of goods). A farmer, an organization of farmers or a practitioner organization can use a drone in various ways within the agricultural sector. Some can use it solely as a farm control device, a soil analysis device, a pest and disease management device, a post harvest device, just to cite a few. More and more peeps are entering into this crusade but grassroot farmers (especially in developing countries) can't yet afford to purchase this material. some still aren't aware of how a GPS can be used in agriculture.

  During my trip to Australia recently where I was invited to attend the 8th GFRAS (Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services) annual meeting, we came across an extension organization known as the Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd (HCPSL) (http://www.hcpsl.com/). While showcasing to us, international delegates (thanks to Mr. DI BELLA Lawrence), on their implication in helping farmers intensifying their agricultural practices in cane production and redering it more precised, they brought up this aspect of making it possible to farmers to follow and understand the sugar cane development, periodically during the growing season. thanks to remote sensing (data, usually imagery/photography, acquired from satellites or aircraft that provides a “bird’s eye” view of the landscape from above) and drones (digital cameras and hardware miniaturisation that allows Normalized Difference Vegetation Index analysis to be performed to assess crop health, particularly over trial and where visual observation of stress is apparent). It was very amazing to see how this extension organization assist farmers in their daily activity processes, train them and support them with adequate tools and techniques to promote professionalism, business oriented and entrepreneurial in their intensive farming approach.

  The main challenges that can hinder efficient and effective management of this tool is climate variability, legislation procedures prioir to defined countries and maintenance of the tool to ensure sustainable use. Thus, farmers are open to accept what shall can aid improve their living standards and community development but needs to be trained on the management of such tools.. In developed countries, quite easy but in developping ones, a "Hold my Hand" approach can't be negleted...

Thanks