Tanzania has just taken another step in modernizing its agriculture by launching a national program to use drones to boost farm productivity, support farmers, and improve the efficiency of agricultural advisory services.

A National Strategy for “Smart” Agriculture

The Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture has intensified its efforts to transform the agricultural landscape through the adoption of modern technologies, particularly drones.

Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba officially launched an initiative dedicated to agricultural drones, which aligns with the government’s vision of making agriculture a more productive, resilient, and market-oriented sector.

The objective is clear: to move from traditional agriculture to precision agriculture, capable of producing more with fewer resources, while improving farmers’ incomes.

Drones for Spraying, Mapping, and Better Decision-Making

Specifically, drones will be used to:

• spray fertilizers and pesticides in a targeted manner, reducing costs and waste;
• map fields, monitor crop growth, and detect diseases, water stress, or soil deficiencies early;
• collect aerial images that provide farmers with faster, better-informed decisions regarding treatments and crop calendars.

This technology also helps limit farmers’ exposure to chemicals by replacing backpack sprayers with safer and more consistent remote applications.

An Old Generation of Drone Experts

To successfully navigate this transition, the government is not simply purchasing equipment; it is investing in human expertise.

Intensive training in the use of agricultural drones has already been organized for 16 experts, who will serve as liaisons with extension services and large farms.

According to the Director of the Department of Crop Development, these experts will be tasked with:

• deploying aerial spraying operations in areas lacking agronomists;
• supporting large-scale producers in managing vast areas in a shorter timeframe; and
• disseminating best practices in precision agriculture to smallholder farmers.

Productivity, Costs, and Environment: Expected Gains

Authorities and experts highlight several key benefits of this transition to drones:

increased productivity per hectare thanks to better targeting of inputs;

reduced labor costs and the use of tractors or aircraft for large areas; and a reduced environmental footprint by limiting the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides.

By covering large areas in minutes, drones also offer an advantage in the face of climate change, enabling much faster responses to hazards, pest infestations, or droughts.

A Laboratory for East Africa

With this initiative, Tanzania joins the broader “smart agriculture” movement developing in Africa, supported by regional organizations and technical partners.

The country could become a regional laboratory for integrating drones into agricultural systems, alongside Rwanda and Ghana, which are already experimenting with similar solutions in health and agriculture.

While challenges remain (equipment costs, air regulations, connecting small-scale producers to these services), the growing use of drones in Tanzania points to a possible path: that of a more technologically advanced, more productive African agriculture, better equipped to withstand climate and market shocks.