Drones: boosting yield and beating erosion
The contribution of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to sustainable agriculture is growing rapidly as the industry learns to harness this technology. According to Berkshire Hathaway’s Business Wire website, the global agriculture drone market was estimated to be worth US$2,15 billion (about R33 billion) in 2021, and this is projected to grow to US$6,72 billion (R103 billion) in 2026.
Since UAVs can survey extensive surface areas while pinpointing problems on a minute scale, they are far more efficient at inspecting orchards or lands than a farmer on foot. Moreover, their infrared sensors can detect problems not seen by the human eye.
Research on the impact of drones on precision agriculture conducted by Ibrahim Naji at the University of Texas in the US explains that plants reflect near-infrared (NIR) light, but that this ability deteriorates as the leaves die.
“Therefore, the NIR sensors are designed in such a way that they are able to monitor
