LOCAL farmers can now analyse the health of their tree crops from the air.
Precision agriculture company, Aerobotics, and The Co-op, formed a partnership that will make Aerobotics’ leading tree crop analytics technology and software available to 1 300 farms in areas like the Gamtoos Valley and Langkloof.
This partnership is the first of its kind in South Africa and will serve as a template for others.
As part of the partnership, Aerobotics will provide its cutting edge tree crop analytics to farms that are members of The Co-op.
Farmers will be able to utilise their relevant Co-op account to purchase Aerobotics’ services. They have the option to pay for the advanced tree crop analytics provided by Aerobotics after harvesting.
These include two separate packages, the Seasonal Drone Service and the Fly Your Own Drone package.
“We are proud to take our partnership with the farming community to the next level,” says Aerobotics’ CEO James Paterson. “Our technology and software could quite literally change the face of farming in the Eastern Cape, and help over a thousand farmers mitigate damage to their crops from pests and diseases, increase their yield and produce a more balanced crop.”
Aerobotics processes data from drone and satellite imagery through its proprietary artificial intelligence software to discover and analyse problems, pests and diseases affecting individual trees or vines on a farm.
In addition to health, the software also measures size, height and canopy volume. This highly accurate data empowers farmers to make better decisions in the field..
Co-Op Chief Operating Officer, Jannie Louw, describes the unique partnership as a great step towards adding value to agriculture in general.
“We are working and living in exciting times in our country. Partnerships like these are energising, and it makes us proud to stay involved in agriculture,” says Louw.
Aerobotics will have a presence in major Co-op branches from January 2019.
The partnership will hold various activation events for farmers in the region.
