Integrated Aerial Precision Makes History as the Proud Convenor of the 3rd AfCPA in Nigeria – Driving Precision Agriculture in Africa Forward!

The African Conference on Precision Agriculture (AfCPA) aims to bridge science and practice to advance precision agriculture across Africa. It serves as a pan-African platform to showcase innovations in experimental and applied precision agriculture while strengthening the continent’s precision agriculture community. AfCPA engages key stakeholders such as scientists, policymakers, agronomists, crop consultants, extension staff, and service providers to build resilient and capable African cropping systems.

AfCPA 2024 features a main conference in Marrakech, Morocco, alongside satellite events in various African cities, including Abomey-Calavi, Abidjan, Cairo, Addis Ababa, Cape Coast, Nairobi, Abeokuta, Pietermaritzburg, and Harare. These events provide local opportunities to engage with the main conference content and regional precision agriculture initiatives.

The 3rd African Conference on Precision Agriculture brought together over 400 participants across its three-day program, showcasing advancements in agricultural technology and fostering discussions on its practical applications. This event was managed and championed by Integrated Aerial Precision at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

Day 1: A Strong Start

The conference began with registration at 9:00 am, where early attendees, including some students, signed in. The event was officially opened by the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), ably represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), who delivered a goodwill message from the VC. This was followed by a welcome address from the Nigeria Satellite Site Conference Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chairman, Dr. John Oyedepo. The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) representative also shared her goodwill message, highlighting the importance of integrating ICT into agriculture in this digital age.

Two keynote presentations captured the audience’s attention, focusing on the Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes and the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture. These presentations set the stage for the conference, offering deep insights into innovative agricultural practices.

After a 30-minute break, the local session presentation commenced, featuring three detailed presentations. Questions from participants were fully addressed, making the sessions interactive and impactful. Over 100 attendees participated on the first day, with all sessions conducted efficiently and professionally.

Day 2: Increased Engagement

Attendance grew significantly on the second day, with over 200 participants present. Many students from various relevant departments in the university joined AfCPA after learning about precision agriculture and its transformative potential. Participants' testimonials, especially students' testimonials, reflected a change of perception about the career in Agriculture.

The day’s sessions began on time, with each segment following the program schedule seamlessly. Discussions were particularly engaging during the session on Women in Precision Agriculture, which sparked vibrant dialogue and highlighted the crucial role of women in advancing agricultural technologies. The interactive nature of the sessions allowed participants to ask numerous questions, which the speakers thoroughly addressed.

Day 3: Technology in Action

The conference's final day drew over 400 participants, marking the highest turnout. Sessions concluded earlier than scheduled, but the day was packed with enriching activities.

One of the major highlights was the visit to the exhibition ground, where various technologies were displayed. Participants explored innovations like smart drip irrigation systems from Smart Sprout, a system that automatically water plants when sensors detect dryness, an example of sustainable water management in agriculture. Other key exhibitors were Maotronics Systems Limited, an Agritech solution development company creating embedded systems and IoT-based Precision irrigation and crop monitoring devices, Soil fertility check computers etc.

We also have Rural Farmers Hub, a company that focuses on Precision management solutions for crop health & soil quality assessment for small farmers, plantations, and out-growers, leveraging satellite data and remote sensing tools

IAPrecision took over the spotlight with our drone-based precision aerial application demonstration. A live showcase by one of our certified pilots involved marking a field and performing an autonomous spraying operation with a DJI Agras T20P Drone. The demonstration generated immense curiosity, with attendees asking numerous questions about the potential of drones in agriculture.

Key Takeaways and Feedback

Participants shared overwhelmingly positive feedback, emphasizing the practical relevance of precision agriculture. Many noted the importance of integrating these technologies into university curricula especially for agriculture students to raise awareness and train students to build capacity.

 In the words of Matthews Ajibola, one of our local Speakers, he said Precision agriculture isn't just a trend; it's an evolution. By harnessing the power of data and technology, we're not only increasing yields but also optimizing resource use and minimizing environmental impact. This is how we'll secure a sustainable food future for Africa, ensuring that our farms thrive and our communities prosper.

Professor Gabriel Dedeke, a staff and the Chairman of UAV Committee at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta  lays emphasis on Professional Digital Agriculture Training for Youths, as this will help them build capacity and remain relevant in the future of work in the Agriculture Industry. Commendably, this is what Precision Field Academy is doing through its flagship program, Precision Agriculture Incubation Program, to build the capacities and upskilling young agricultural professionals and enthusiasts to leverage digital and precision agriculture technologies. Through reputable organizations like FUNAAB, Precision Field has trained and educated hundreds of farmers and agricultural professionals to become leaders and players in precision agriculture and to remain relevant in the future of work and technology in the agricultural sector.

Attendees and participants from various work of life even beyond agriculture space has seen the need to embrace and contribute in one way or the other to precision Agriculture as a collective responsibility either through Advocacy or Adoption encouragement to Policy making to use the knowledge gained to train others and explore ways to incorporate precision agriculture into their workflows, agribusinesses operations, and academic programs. Students were particularly inspired, expressing excitement about the advancements they had witnessed through the conference.

Lastly on the 3rd day which is the closing, Femi Adekoya the Founder and Managing Director of Integrated Aerial Precision, gave a closing address appreciating all who have supported us, especially the LOC and the University management, and he spurred the participants to go on from the conference to start putting precision agriculture and technology into action across Nigeria and Africa by extension.

Conclusion

The 3rd African Conference on Precision Agriculture was a resounding success, leaving participants motivated to embrace technology and innovation for agriculture (business, production, or research). It served as a platform for knowledge sharing, practical demonstrations, and networking, paving the way for greater adoption of precision agriculture practices in the future. At Integrated Aerial Precision, we are excited for the privilege to take the lead in putting precision agriculture into action in Nigeria and Africa.