The Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA) has significantly improved its capacity to manage pest outbreaks and boost agricultural productivity by leveraging drone technology. This innovative method facilitates timely pest detection and control, optimises pesticide application, monitors crop health, and enhances overall agricultural management. By integrating drones into its operations, TPHPA has taken a critical step forward in plant protection and food security efforts across Tanzania.
Revolutionising Pest Surveillance and Control
Historically, pest monitoring and control in Tanzania’s vast agricultural regions were labour-intensive and time-consuming. TPHPA field officers manually inspected farms, a process that could take weeks or even months, particularly for large farms. The introduction of drones has transformed this approach, making pest surveillance faster, more accurate, and significantly less resource-intensive. TPHPA now operates a fleet of 15 drones designed for pest surveillance and farm mapping. Equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, these drones can quickly identify and monitor pest outbreaks across large, often inaccessible areas such as dense shrubbery or expansive fields of up to 200 hectares. For example, drones have been instrumental in tracking the spread of Quelea Quelea birds, a major pest capable of destroying cereal crops within minutes. Previously, locating these pests required extensive, inefficient on-foot searches. With drones, TPHPA can now pinpoint pest locations in a fraction of the time.
Drones also determine the exact dimensions of farms, allowing TPHPA to calculate the precise type and quantity of pesticides needed for effective pest control. This eliminates inefficiencies associated with manual methods, such as tape measurements, and ensures pesticide use is both efficient and cost-effective. Once pests are identified, the surveillance data collected by smaller drones is relayed to larger drones equipped for pesticide spraying. This seamless integration enables precise pesticide application, targeting specific areas with the right quantities, thereby reducing waste and improving pest management outcomes.
Beyond pest control, drones monitor crop health throughout the farming season. They assess individual crops for signs of pest infestations, nutrient deficiencies, or drought stress, enabling TPHPA to provide data-driven advice to farmers. This guidance helps optimise pesticide use, fertilisation, and irrigation, ultimately improving crop yields and reducing losses.
Building Capacity for Drone Operations
TPHPA’s adoption of drone technology is not only a technological leap but also the result of extensive capacity-building efforts. Staff from TPHPA and the Zanzibar Plant Protection Division (ZPPD) underwent comprehensive training in drone operations and pest management. This training has equipped personnel with the necessary skills to operate drones effectively and interpret the data they collect. The use of drones has dramatically reduced the time and manpower required for pest surveillance and control. Tasks that once required large teams over several weeks now take just a single day with fewer than three officers, even for areas exceeding 200 hectares.
Transformative Impact on Pest Control in 2023/2024
The 2023/2024 farming season demonstrated the effectiveness of drone technology in pest control. TPHPA successfully managed a widespread mouse infestation across 16 regions, 54 districts, and 1,395 villages, covering more than 358,000 acres. Drones enabled TPHPA to locate and address the infestation swiftly, deploying control measures effectively. Similarly, TPHPA controlled an outbreak of approximately 80 million Quelea Quelea birds that threatened rice, millet, and sorghum farms in key agricultural regions. This intervention saved an estimated 1.1 million tonnes of cereals in large schemes, including paddy rice farms in Pwani, Mbeya, Morogoro, Tabora, Shinyanga, and Manyara.
In Dodoma and Ikungi District, TPHPA used drones to manage locust populations, preventing damage to 1,340 acres of crops. Additionally, drones helped control fall armyworm infestations on over 200 acres, preserving approximately 500 tonnes of produce.
The STREPHIT Project: A Catalyst for Improved Plant Health Services
The successful integration of drones into TPHPA’s operations aligns with broader efforts under the Strengthening Plant Health Services in Tanzania for Enhanced Food Safety (STREPHIT) project. This €10.6 million initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization, addresses technical and administrative challenges in plant health, enhancing pest management and agricultural trade.
STREPHIT has significantly expanded TPHPA’s capacity in pest surveillance, plant protection, and crop monitoring. It has improved compliance with international standards, strengthened inspection processes at export and import points, and introduced modern data collection systems. These advancements have enhanced pest control, resource efficiency, and Tanzania’s agricultural trade framework.
A Milestone in Agricultural Modernisation
The adoption of drones marks a transformative milestone in Tanzania’s agricultural sector. By enhancing pest surveillance, control, and crop monitoring, TPHPA has improved pesticide application, reduced waste, and boosted farmer livelihoods. With continued support from the STREPHIT project, drone technology has not only increased the efficiency of pest control but also contributed to the sustainability and productivity of Tanzania’s agriculture. As this technology evolves, it is poised to further revolutionise pest management, positioning Tanzania as a regional leader in agricultural innovation.