Following the initial needs assessment visit to Kuona Mbele Farmers’ Society on 24th May 2024, members expressed a strong interest in adopting modern agricultural technologies, particularly  drone spraying services, to improve efficiency and reduce production costs. In response to this  identified need of adapting to new technology during TAGDev 2.0 needs assessment activities, the University of Eldoret's TAGDev 2.0 engaged one of our strategic partners, Customized Aviation Services (CAS), to  facilitate an awareness session on the benefits and practical applications of drone technology in  farming. 

A theoretical drone awareness session underway at the Kuona Mbele Farmers’ Society godown,  where farmers showed great interest in learning about modern spraying technologies. This  training was organized in response to a need identified during the TAGDev 2.0 needs assessment conducted  on 24th May 2025. 

To address this demand, a Field Day was organized on 24th July 2025. The event aimed to educate  farmers on how drone technology can enhance crop protection, optimize resource use, and  contribute to climate-smart agricultural practices. Beyond the demonstration of drone spraying  services, the meeting also served as a platform to bring together various agricultural stakeholders,  including extension officers, technology providers, and farmer representatives, to discuss  opportunities for integrating precision agriculture solutions into local farming systems.

Empowering Women in Agriculture through Drone Technology 

The awareness training began with a comprehensive theoretical session, followed by a live field  demonstration where a drone sprayed herbicide on a neighboring plot owned by the farmers’  society. During the theoretical session, participants expressed great interest, particularly when  they learned about the wide range of applications for drones in agriculture. These include disease  and pest scouting, nutrient status analysis through aerial imaging, and precision spraying of  agrochemicals. Such functionalities highlight drones as a versatile tool for modern farming. 

One of the most notable outcomes of the session was the enthusiasm demonstrated by women  farmers. Traditionally, women have faced significant barriers to active participation in commercial  crop production due to the physical demands associated with conventional spraying methods.  Carrying heavy knapsack sprayers across large fields is labor-intensive and often beyond the  physical capacity of many women, limiting their involvement in crops that require frequent 

spraying. Furthermore, reliance on hired labor for spraying exposes women to additional  challenges, such as inflated costs and dishonest practices by some laborers, which further  discourages them from scaling up production. The introduction of drone technology addresses  these challenges directly by eliminating the need for strenuous manual spraying, reducing  dependency on hired labor, and ensuring timely and uniform application of agrochemicals. 

Beyond operational convenience, the adoption of drones can enhance women’s decision-making  roles and economic empowerment. By making crop management less physically demanding and  more technology-driven, drones create opportunities for women to venture into high-value crops,  increase farm sizes, and participate competitively in agribusiness. In addition, women-led service  enterprises for drone operations could emerge, creating new income streams and  entrepreneurial pathways for rural women. This is particularly evident as several of the youth  who expressed interest in being trained on the technology were young women. This being among the many goals of the TAGDev 2.0 program of empowering youth and by a large scale women. 

This paradigm shift not only promotes gender inclusivity in agriculture but also aligns with  broader goals of sustainable farming and climate-smart agricultural practices. Drone technology,  therefore, represents more than just a tool for efficiency, it is a gateway to transforming gender  roles in agriculture and fostering inclusive growth. 

Harmonizing Agrochemical Dilution Standards for Drone Spraying 

One of the key highlights of the awareness session was the discussion on the efficiency of drone based spraying. Farmers were impressed by the time-saving potential of this technology, noting  that a drone can spray one acre in just eight minutes while carrying a 30-litre tank capacity. This  efficiency is achieved through the drone’s ability to atomize the spray solution into a fine mist  under high pressure, which not only ensures uniform coverage but also minimizes wastage  compared to conventional spraying methods.

However, this advantage sparked a heated discussion regarding the recommended dilution rates  of agrochemicals. Most agrochemical manufacturers provide application guidelines based on  knapsack sprayers, typically calibrated for 20 liters of water per mixture, as this has been the  dominant spraying method among farmers. While the manufacturers also provide general  recommendations per hectare, these rates are not specifically tailored for drone technology,  which uses different spray volumes and delivery mechanisms. 

The group agreed that agrochemical manufacturers need to be sensitized about the growing  adoption of drones in agriculture and encouraged to develop standardized dilution guidelines for  drone spraying. This will ensure proper dosage, maintain effectiveness of crop protection  products, and minimize the risk of under- or over-application that could compromise crop health  or safety standards. 

To settle this gap, participants suggested that further research is necessary, particularly in the  following areas: 

• Optimal chemical dilution and spray volumes for drones, ensuring alignment with efficacy  and safety standards.

• Comparative analysis of residue levels in crops sprayed using drones versus conventional  methods. 

• Impact of drone spraying on pest and disease control effectiveness, crop yield, and  environmental outcomes. 

• Economic analysis of drone-based spraying relative to knapsack and tractor-mounted  sprayers. 

• Development of operational guidelines and regulatory frameworks to govern drone  spraying practices, especially on chemical use and safety compliance. 

The session concluded that the involvement of agrochemical companies and regulatory bodies  will be crucial in addressing these gaps. Representatives from agrochemical companies present  at the meeting committed to escalating this matter to their technical teams for consideration. 

The farmers expressed strong interest in continuing their engagement with drone technology,  noting that they would like a dedicated session tailored specifically for potato farmers, given the  unique spraying requirements for this crop. Additionally, since the region is currently in the  wheat-growing season, some farmers indicated their willingness to collaborate and collectively  pilot the technology on their wheat fields. This commitment reflects a positive attitude toward  adopting precision agriculture solutions and suggests that future training sessions and  demonstrations targeting different crop systems will be highly beneficial.