RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Drones Add Surveillance Tech to Region’s Agriculture by Camille Russell
As farmers bemoan their losses from praedial larceny and low yields, the region’s agricultural sector is set for a major technological boost against theft and disaster. The Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) at Cave Hill Campus has embarked on a training exercise entitled “Drones for Agriculture: Participatory Mapping and Geospatial Analysis Training Package to Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS)” to support agricultural disaster risk management applications.
Participants of the Drones for Agriculture Training Course 2022 from the Ministry of Agriculture in St. Lucia with (at front right) Dr. Kim Baldwin
T he programme, funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and designed by Dr. Kim Baldwin , former research associate with CERMES, was delivered in a pilot project between April and July 2022 to more than 40 people working with the Ministries of Agriculture in Dominica and St. Lucia. According to Dr. Baldwin, agricultural drone technology is undoubtedly the future of agrarian communities the world over: “Drones have been revolutionary
for the field of precision agriculture, or the practice of using modern technology and data-driven techniques to increase the efficiency of farm operations. The use of drones for precision agriculture enables farmers to better manage their crops, soil, and livestock, resulting in increased productivity, improved income, and reduced costs,” she said. Dr. Baldwin, who is also Director of Marine Spatial Information Solutions , mentioned that adding this level of technology to agriculture can transform traditional farming in immeasurable ways.
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