Can Drones Help Smallholder Farmers Improve Agriculture Efficiencies and Reduce Food Insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa? Local Perceptions from Malawi

Christopher McCarthy (), Yamikani Nyoni, Daud Jones Kachamba, Lumbani Benedicto Banda, Boyson Moyo, Cornelius Chisambi, James Banfill and Buho Hoshino ()
Additional contact information
Christopher McCarthy: Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
Yamikani Nyoni: Department of Forestry, Bunda College of Agriculture Campus, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Lilongwe P.O. Box 219, Malawi
Daud Jones Kachamba: Department of Forestry, Bunda College of Agriculture Campus, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Lilongwe P.O. Box 219, Malawi
Lumbani Benedicto Banda: Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bunda College of Agriculture Campus, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Lilongwe P.O. Box 219, Malawi
Boyson Moyo: Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bunda College of Agriculture Campus, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Lilongwe P.O. Box 219, Malawi
Cornelius Chisambi: Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
James Banfill: Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Buho Hoshino: Lab of Environmental Remote Sensing, Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa play a vital role in achieving food security and nutrition, yet they are often overlooked by development policies and lack access to the technology and information needed to increase their agricultural productivity. This is particularly true in Malawi, where smallholder farmers make up over 80% of the population and face a range of risks and challenges, including vulnerability to climate change, that threaten their livelihoods, food security, and nutrition. While drones and precision agriculture technology have had a significant impact on agriculture in high-income countries, their application by smallholder farmers in low-income countries is not well understood. This study, conducted in 2022, examines how drones can assist smallholder farmers in increasing their agricultural productivity and food security in Malawi. It explores how smallholders perceive the use of drones and the potential benefits and limitations of using drones in their farming operations. A unique aspect of this study aims to understand smallholders’ perceptions of open data and data privacy. The results show that when smallholder farmers interact with drone data, they have a better understanding of their farm and are able to make more informed decisions that use fewer inputs and reduce production costs. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential for drones to assist smallholder farmers improve their on-farm knowledge, increase agricultural productivity, and mitigate the risks and challenges they face, leading to improved livelihoods and a more sustainable and secure food supply. Policymakers can promote the adoption of drone technology among smallholder farmers by developing policies that encourage public–private partnerships to create affordable, locally adapted drone technologies and programs that meet their unique needs, while also ensuring responsible use of drones in agriculture through regulations that address concerns about data privacy and security.

Keywords: unmanned aerial vehicles; open data; agriculture extension; smallholder agriculture; sustainable agriculture; climate-smart agriculture; sustainable development goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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