Putting More Food on the Table Using Agricultural Aviation

Putting More Food on the Table Using Agricultural Aviation

Introduction

Ethiopia, just like most of the developing world nations, heavily relies on agricultural produce to spur its economy. Agriculture has become the mainstay of the country’s economy. The agricultural sector accounts for over 35% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) (Jiren, Dorresteijn, Hanspach, Schultner, Bergsten, Manlosa & Fischer, 2020). However, the country’s population still uses traditional farming techniques. Both the subsistent farmers as well as the large scale commercial farmers utilize the conventional methods of farming, which include the manual application of crop protection chemicals and fertilizers. The utilization of conventional agricultural practices significantly hampers the productivity of the agricultural sector. It also affects the competitiveness of the country’s agricultural produce in the international arena. Additionally, overreliance on traditional processes and procedures has an adverse effect on the country’s food security program.

The systems, procedures, and processes utilized in the agricultural sector across the globe have undergone significant evolution over the years. Technology, in particular, has been a major catalyst in the developments witnessed in this sector. The constant innovation and invention witnessed in the technological sector always instigate the rapid evolutions witnessed among different industries, including the agricultural sector (Antuniassi and Ulisses, 2015). The incorporation of technological intensive concepts and processes such as agrarian aviation in agriculture has resulted in a significant increase in agricultural productivity across the globe. Such have also further enhanced the competitiveness of individual country’s agricultural output in the international arena and has boosted individual country’s food security programs. The use of agricultural aircraft in spraying chemicals has been identified as the fastest and most efficient method of applying agricultural chemicals in the farm field. 

Considering how much Ethiopia relies on agricultural produce, it is only proper for the country to adopt more modern and technological intensive procedures and processes within its agricultural sector. In support of this, we are planning to establish an agricultural aviation company that can enhance the transformation of the country’s agricultural industry from the traditional systems and processes to more modern systems and processes, with efficient and effective utilization of state of the art the US-made spray aircraft. The country is steering in the right direction in regards to streamlining its agricultural sector to the new developments witnessed in the contemporary world by borrowing successful agricultural models applied among Asian nations like South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. These models have two critical characteristics: first, they have a clear set of priorities that help in managing bottlenecks such as skills, coordination, funding, and resources that are associated with specific areas within the agricultural sector. Secondly, a dedicated body that is responsible for advising key players within the agricultural sector, a task that is left for the Agriculture Transformation Agency (ATA).

The Ethiopian government recently renewed its FEED THE FUTURE initiative with the United States, which is a significant step in realizing the adoption of more modern systems and processes in the agricultural sector. Supporting a sustainable agricultural led economic growth within the country is one of the core components of this initiative. This is expected to increase both livestock and crop productivity within the country. The United States Agency for international development (USAID) is undertaking the FEED THE FUTURE initiative program within the country. It has been for long funding different sectors within the country as well as providing the necessary technological support with the aim of improving the lives of millions of Ethiopians. We are targeting significant support from the USAID in establishing the proposed agricultural aviation company since the proposed company falls within one of the core components of the FEED THE FUTURE initiative. Incorporating agricultural aviation within the FEED THE FUTURE initiative program will positively impact the realization of one of the objectives of the program of enhancing agricultural productivity within the country.

Purpose

Ethiopia is located in the sub-Saharan region and is one of the poorest countries in the world. In particular, the sub-Saharan region accounts for 42% of the world’s most indigent population, a figure that is expected by the World Bank to rise to close to 87% by 2030 if efficient and effective measures are not put in place to address the issue of low productivity in the agricultural sector given the heavy dependence on agricultural produce of the population living in this area (Jiren et al. 2020).

In addressing the issue of poverty in the sub-Saharan, there is a need to adopt modern methods and techniques that have been adopted in other parts of the world. Such methods and techniques include agricultural aviation, which has been tested and proved to enhance productivity in the agricultural sector among developed countries like the United States and Canada. Ample space that can allow for large scale agricultural production in most sub-Saharan countries like Ethiopia can only be accessed in rural areas. Even though the use of manpower is expensive and ineffective in the contemporary world’s agricultural production, these remote areas are primarily characterized by harsh environmental conditions that are not human-friendly, thereby resulting in difficulty in accessing adequate human labor that can facilitate the traditional agricultural techniques and methods.

An astute example is sugar cane farming within the country. Despite being allocated massive acreage of space amounting to 100,000Ha, the production level is still way below the expected average production level. This has rendered the country to be among the world sugar importers even though the country can produce enough sugar for its population. Additionally, grain production is the second agricultural-based economic activity after livestock farming. It needs a lot of improvement to meet the expectations from the country’s population since it accounts for close to 80% of land under cultivation and employs close to 60% of the rural population (Jiren et al. 2020). Several factors have been cited as to contribute to the low levels witnessed in the country’s grain production and inefficient supply of fertilizer as well as limited mechanization have been cited as major contributors to these low production levels.

Currently, there is only one agricultural aviation company in Ethiopia which provides spray services to their firms and partly to Ethiopian seed enterprises. However, the company utilizes outdated technologies that are not effective and efficient to the agricultural demands in the contemporary world. There is a massive lack of agricultural aviation knowledge among players within the agricultural industry in Ethiopia, which has seriously hindered farmers from seeking the already limited agricultural aviation services within the country. Additionally, the majority of farmers within the country are not aware of the existence of such services within the country, which also contributes to them not seeking agricultural aviation services. Implementation of agricultural aviation within the country is mandatory if the lives of the majority of Ethiopians are to be enhanced to better living standards.

Goals and Objectives

Goals

Transforming the Ethiopian agricultural sector into the modern agricultural procedures, methods, and techniques applied in the contemporary world is the primary goal for this project. Currently, large scale farming for commercial purposes is practiced using the traditional methods, procedures and techniques are ineffective and inefficient, thereby reducing the productivity of farmlands within the country (Tafirenyika, 2019). Incorporating agricultural aviation into the agricultural practices in Ethiopia will enhance the productivity of the vast acreage of farms that are currently not producing enough agricultural products. It will further enhance the competitiveness of Ethiopian farm produce in the international arena, which will ensure adequate returns in terms of revenues, thereby earning the country adequate foreign currency and, as a result, ensures effective competition of the Ethiopian currency in the international money market.

Objectives

In achieving the primary goal of this project, some specific objectives must be met for the goal to be a reality. Some of these objectives include awareness creation, establishing well-equipped training centers, and effective monitoring of farmlands.

Awareness creation among the Ethiopian population

Considering how unpopular agricultural aviation is among the Ethiopian population, it is to organize seminars and conduct a massive campaign to create awareness of both the existence of agricultural aviation and its benefits. These seminars will educate the Ethiopian population on how much they can enhance the productivity of their farmlands and reduce the cost they incur in their farming practices. The campaign drives will also help in creating awareness of the existence of the company and the kind of services it offers to the Ethiopian population. Additionally, awareness creation will sensitize all the stakeholders involved in the Ethiopian agricultural sector. These stakeholders include learning institutions, governmental bodies, and private farmers. This will instigate research and development that can help in further enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural aviation in Ethiopia. It will further ensure the formulation and implementation of effective policies by government officials.

Ensuring the establishment of well-equipped training centers

To ensure maximum gains, there is a need to establish training centers within Ethiopia. Ethiopia, as a country, has well-trained pilots. However, the majority of these pilots do not have adequate knowledge relating to agricultural aviation. The company plans on having 30 training centers in ten years, but at first, it will start with one training center that will be located at its main office in Addis Ababa. USAID will be vital in this as the organization will be consulted to recommend appropriate training professionals from the united states to come and help in training the first bunch of professionals to be employed by the company. The company expects to employ approximately 70 agricultural aviation professionals at the beginning and increase the number with time as it expands across the country.

Ensuring effective Monitoring of farmlands

The company will ensure effective monitoring of the Ethiopian farmlands through the use of state of the art drones and satellite images. This will help the company discern the exact status of the plants and apply the right amount of chemicals at the right time and ensure minimal chemical usage. Monitoring of the firms will also help in discerning the topography of the location in question so as to be well prepared in tackling obstacles such as hills.

Methodology and Timeline

• First, the company will be legally registered with the relevant Ethiopian government authorities to give way for the acquisition of the necessary equipment and relevant human resource as well as setting up the training center. All these activities should take two months. The company expects to acquire the most recent agricultural aviation technologies from the United States so as to manage the risk of these equipment being considered as obsolete in the near future. The listed training professionals from the United States are also expected to arrive in the country within this period to help in setting up the training center. The hiring process for the 70 agricultural aviation professionals will also be completed within this period.
• The next step will be conducting proper and efficient training for all the human resource hired. Some of the knowledge that the majority of Ethiopian pilots lack that will be provided at the training centers include mixing and adding chemicals that are used in agricultural aviation services, effective application of pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers to crops as well as considering airspeed, wind and weather conditions to ensure these conditions are suitable for applying agricultural aviation services.
• After the completion of the training, the company will conduct massive awareness creation campaigns in the country that will be aimed at sensitizing the Ethiopian population on the benefits they will derive from adopting agricultural aviation services provided by the company. This is expected to take one month and will also include in-office briefings for government officials and private farmers. During this period the company will also conduct a demonstration of spray flights to show how fast and effective its services are
• After creating agricultural aviation awareness among the Ethiopian population, there will be a need for securing contracts with interested players within the Ethiopian agricultural sector. Targeted potential clients include Ethiopian seed enterprise and the sugar corporation. This exercise is expected not to take much time since the targeted clients are in dire need of these services. The exercise is expected to take two weeks.
• After securing the contracts, the company will then commence on the service provision, which will start by positioning of equipment and personnel at the respective locations in which they are needed. This will then pave the way for the commencement of spray operation, which is expected to take approximately two months. Considering all these processes, at least seven months are needed for the project to get up and to run in an effective and efficient manner.

Benefits/Expected Outcome

Chemical application in the majority of Ethiopian commercial farms is currently done by either tractors or manpower. Studies have shown that chemical application through the use of tractors results in damage to crops. The damage has been approximated to be up to 5% (Woldeyohanes, Heckelei & Surry, 2017). Using aircraft in applying these chemicals can significantly help in reducing these damages. Though the use of aircraft might lead to additional costs, these costs can be significantly reduced if the 5% loss is to be reclaimed (Woldeyohanes, Heckelei & Surry, 2017).

Currently, monitoring of crops is done through visual inspection procedure, which is not much effective and efficient in the contemporary world’s agricultural sector due to the damages it causes resulting from late detection of insects and pest invasion on crops. Using of the state of the art drones in monitoring farmlands always helps in early crop protection before considerable damage is caused.

Studies have shown that using aircraft in crop treatment is 20 times faster than ground treatment means. Applying agricultural aviation services on Ethiopian sugarcane and cotton farms will significantly help the provision of appropriate remedies in a timely manner as these two crops are known to suffer from fast pest infestation.

Using aircraft in chemical and fertilizer application on farmlands result in less consumption of both chemical and water compared to the existing practices, this will be reflected in the tally of the daily records of operation. Additionally, seasonal crops will also help in confirming how effective and efficient agricultural aviation is through an increase in production levels with enhanced quality.