Nigerian Youth Develops UAV for Agricultural Disease Detection

Nigerian Youth Develops UAV for Agricultural Disease Detection
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According to an article from Anadolu Agency, a 25-year-old aerospace engineering graduate from Kaduna State, Nigeria, has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to detect agricultural diseases and spray pesticides. The developer, Shamsudeen Jibril, aims to increase agricultural productivity and assist farmers in their work.

The UAV scans agricultural fields from the air, detects disease symptoms, and transfers the data to a smartphone. It then provides farmers with recommendations for treatment and prevention. Jibril explained that he was inspired to create the device after seeing the difficulties his father, a farmer, faced with heavy loads and chemical exposure.

He noted that many parts of the UAV are produced locally, but critical components are imported. Jibril stated that he needs funding and support from the government or private sector to increase production and reach more farmers. During trials in Kaduna, farmers were satisfied with the quick disease detection, time savings, and reduced health risks provided by the drone. Jibril hopes to eventually create a more advanced, autonomous model. He encourages other young people to embrace technology and not be afraid of making mistakes.