28/07/2025
A five-day training which was conducted by the Centre of Excellence in Transformative Agriculture Commercialization and Entrepreneurship (TACE), through Consult, Align, Guide, Execute (CAGE), has proved to be a game changer for individuals who participated. The training titled āFoundations of Drone Operations with a Focus on Agricultural Applicationsā was aimed at equipping the trainees on how to use drones in precision farming, monitoring and surveying. The training commenced on 21st July 2025 at Bunda Campus- LUANAR, and on the final day, 25 July 2025, they travelled to Kasungu drone testing corridor for their final practical engagement.
TACE, being the hub for innovation and commercialization, accommodated a diverse background of individuals from farm owner to teachers, soil scientists, agricultural engineers and LUANAR students from diverse programs. A total of 25 people completed the drone training and received certificates confirming their skills.
Precision agriculture is a farming approach that uses technology to observe, measure, and respond to variability in crops and fields. The goal is to optimize field-level management regarding crop farming by using data and tools to improve efficiency, productivity, sustainability, and profitability. With the help of drones, farmers can easily practice precision agriculture. They can now monitor every square inch of their land and apply resources like water, fertilizers, and pesticides exactly where they are needed. Using advanced sensors, drones can scan fields for signs of plant stress, nutrient deficiency, or pest infestation- long before the human eye notices. These insights allow for targeted intervention, improving yields while conserving resources.
Notably, drones are also changing how farmers interact with the land itself. With the ability to generate accurate 3D maps and elevation models, drones are replacing costly and time-consuming traditional surveying methods. Whether calculating the area of a new plot, planning the slope for irrigation, or marking field boundaries for official documentation, drones offer fast, accurate and precise results.
Despite the potential, drone adaptation in Malawi still faces several hurdles. These include high equipment cost, lack of trained operators, and limited internet access to rural areas. Thus, TACE, through CAGE and with the funding from the World Bank embarked on this five-day training to equip the attendants with the high needed knowledge and skills to use drones in as far as agricultural practices are concerned.
