Abstract
Global food demands have led to the rapid introduction of Information Communication Technology (ICT) innovations in the agriculture sector—one such innovation is drone technology. Drones are used in precision agriculture, including aerial observation, sensing, and the spraying of pesticides. Regulations on the use of drones are necessary because drones can violate privacy rules, data protection rights, and public peace. However, many African countries have either very restrictive regulations, or no proper regulation in place, making the process of acquiring a license for drone operation cumbersome. In this study, we present the results of a literature review that explores the current drone regulations in Sub-Saharan Africa and the results of a systematic literature review (SLR) and survey study whereby we have interviewed the relevant stakeholders, in order to understand the challenges posed by the regulations to the effective use of drones for agriculture. The results indicate that the regulations contain about 40 to 85 per cent of the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) manual on Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPASs). In addition, whilst the SLR focused on the technology, safety, ethics and regulatory hurdles towards drones, the interviewees focused on the need for skill and awareness among the responsible authorities to enforce regulations, and the need for sustainability and participatory process in defining regulations.
Highlights
Drone technology and usage has been increasing within the last decade, especially in the agriculture sector [1]
Drones can be operated in public spaces and are able to capture images and sound from places that are not traditionally available to the public, and drones disrupt the expectations of reasonable privacy
The regulations focus upon three key aspects: (1) targeting the regulated use of airspace by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); (2) imposing operational limitations; and (3) tackling the administrative procedures of flight permissions, pilot licenses and data collection authorization
Summary
Drone technology and usage has been increasing within the last decade, especially in the agriculture sector [1]. Compared to much larger manned aircrafts, drones can survey agricultural land without the inherent safety risks and high costs. Through crop health imaging, integrated GIS mapping and minimizing the need to physically go through the field, drones could play a vital role in the decision making and management process contributing to increased yield and reduced cost. This would increase the efficiency and effectiveness of some management actions. Drones attract educated youth to venture into agricultural service enterprises, generating job opportunities and improving farmers’ returns on investments [4]
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