By Samuel Njoroge, Esther Mugi-Ngenga, Bernice M. Limo, and Oluwatobi Fakoya
Precision agriculture (PA) in Africa, though still emerging, holds great promise for transforming smallholder farming. It enhances productivity through site-specific input use, digital tools, and data-driven decisions. However, adoption is limited by high costs, low digital literacy, poor infrastructure, and environmental challenges. Opportunities lie in falling tech costs, supportive policies, and growing digital platforms. Scaling PA requires better internet access, training, partnerships, and affordable, context-specific technologies.
A brief history of precision agriculture in Africa
Precision Agriculture (PA) has a relatively recent history in Africa, with research efforts beginning in the early 2000s, decades later than in the global North. In its early stages, PA research in Africa was received with some skepticism on its feasibility particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), given the anticipated implementation challenges (Shibusawa, 2001). While research and application have increased, adoption remains low. Research and implementation are also concentrated within a few countries, namely, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Niger (Nyaga et al., 2021), where most PA-related startups are also based.
PA is defined as a management strategy that gathers, processes and analyzes temporal, spatial and individual data and combines it with other information to support management decisions according to estimated variability for improved resource use efficiency, productivity, quality, profitability and sustainability of agricultural production (ISPA, 2019). PA implementation in Africa contrasts significantly to that in the global North, where adoption is more widespread and technologically advanced. In the global North, PA commonly involves high-resolution data from satellites and drones, variable-rate fertilizer application, yield monitors, and sensor-based weed management systems. These tools support fine-tuned management practices that optimize input use and improve productivity. In contrast, application of advanced PA technologies in Africa is generally rare and mainly limited to countries with stronger socio-economic and technological infrastructure. However, there are some notable adoptions of PA technologies in Africa. These include yield monitoring, variable-rate lime application, and auto-guidance systems in South Africa; improved irrigation efficiency in fruit farming in parts of Southern and Eastern Africa; weather and pest forecasting; digital agronomic advisories; and micro-dosing of fertilizer and manure in the Sahel. These cases highlight the potential of PA to support improved productivity and resource use efficiency in Africa, despite broader constraints to widespread adoption.
The need for precision agriculture in Africa
PA is essential for achieving significant improvements in crop productivity within Africa’s predominantly smallholder, rainfed farming systems. Crop production in these systems is often characterized by suboptimal yields, and large gaps between actual and attainable yields (www.yieldgap.org). These yield gaps are driven by poor soil fertility, nutrient mining, inadequate crop management, and unbalanced fertilizer recommendations, all compounded by high variability in crop responses to inputs. Addressing these constraints is a prerequisite for achieving sustainable crop productivity intensification. PA offers targeted solutions for intensification, enabling efficient use of inputs through improved agronomic practices, site-specific management, and decision-support tools. Technologies such as yield and soil mapping support the delineation of management zones, while variable rate application ensures nutrients are applied precisely, where, and when needed. Furthermore, PA can enhance extension services by leveraging mobile technologies to provide real-time, localized guidance on planting, input use, pest and disease alerts, and weather forecasting. Given the widespread use of mobile phones in Africa, digital PA tools present an opportunity for scalable dissemination of customized advisories. This can lead to improved input efficiency, higher yields, reduced environmental impact, and enhanced farm profitability, contributing to broader development goals such as poverty reduction and food security. Indeed, the African Union has identified the adoption of PA as vital in realizing the vision of ‘the Africa we want-no hunger, no poverty and global peace and harmony’ (African Union, 2015).
Relevance of precision agriculture for African farming systems
Agriculture is evolving into a technology-driven sector, often referred to as “Agriculture 4.0”. This transformation emphasizes the integration of digital technologies to support sustainable, efficient, and data-informed farming practices. PA aligns closely with this paradigm by enabling site-specific input application, real-time decision-making, and improved resource use efficiency. Through tools such as artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and data-driven support systems, PA enhances productivity while minimizing environmental impacts.
For Africa, the relevance of PA is reinforced by its potential to support agricultural transformation goals. Continental frameworks such as the 2014 Malabo Declaration recognize the adoption of PA as vital for accelerating agricultural transformation (African Union, 2015). Recent pledges by African leaders to deliver crop- and site-specific agronomic recommendations to the majority of smallholder farmers by 2034 (Africa Union, 2024) provide opportunities for using PA to achieve these targets. In particular, the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework offers a structured approach to optimize nutrient use through PA technologies capable of strengthening resilience, productivity, and livelihoods across the continent.
Constraints to precision agriculture adoption in Africa
The adoption and implementation of PA in Africa is constrained by a range of interrelated socio-economic, environmental, educational, and technical factors. These constraints have previously been categorized into five distinct categories, namely, (i) farmer-demographic characteristics, (ii) environmental, (iii), educational, (iv) economic, and (v) technical constraints (Bosompem, 2021).
Demographically, the majority of smallholder farmers are often older (i.e., >60 years) and have limited formal education or exposure to digital tools, which reduces their capacity and willingness to adopt complex technologies. Low digital literacy, compounded by minimal farm incomes, further limits the feasibility of investing in PA innovations.
Economically, the high cost of acquiring and maintaining PA equipment, including hardware, software, and training, presents a major barrier. Most farming households in Africa operate on small farms with limited resources and face restricted access to credit or institutional financial support. The lack of economies of scale typical of smallholder systems also undermines the cost-effectiveness of PA technologies.
Environmental factors further challenge implementation. Many farming systems in Africa are in topographically complex regions, such as the East African highlands, where steep and uneven terrain impairs mechanization. Farming systems in Africa also commonly feature trees interspersed within and between fields, with approximately one-third of smallholder farmers in SSA integrating trees into annually cropped areas. Although these trees contribute directly and indirectly to rural livelihoods, they can impede the use of PA technologies by obstructing the movement of machinery such as tractors, harvesters and planters.
Globally, the adoption of PA has been hindered by educational and training challenges, including limited local expertise, low awareness among farmers and professionals, weak PA education systems, and insufficient development of PA-specific software and hardware. These barriers are more acute in Africa due to shortages in trained personnel, underfunded research, and inadequately resourced extension services. These constraints limit both the development of context appropriate PA technologies and the dissemination of existing tools. Further compounding the issue are declining enrollments in agricultural programs, a lack of skilled faculty, especially in resource-constrained institutions, and curricula that insufficiently integrates PA, all of which hinder the advancement and adoption of PA across African farming systems.
From a technical aspect, the lack of digital infrastructure presents a significant constraint to the adoption of PA in Africa. Internet connectivity is low in many rural areas, and access to smartphones, computers, sensors, and remote sensing services remains limited. Since many PA systems depend on reliable data transfer and connectivity, these gaps hinder the functionality and scalability of PA technologies across the continent.
In sum, demographic, economic, environmental, educational, and technical barriers collectively limit the adoption of PA in Africa. Addressing these constraints through tailored, inclusive strategies is essential to unlock the potential of PA in supporting sustainable intensification and productivity gains in smallholder farming systems.
Opportunities for enhancing precision agriculture in Africa
Despite persistent barriers, the outlook for PA adoption in Africa is increasingly optimistic. Rapid advancements in digital technologies, paired with falling costs, are expanding the feasibility of PA for smallholder farmers. Successful trials in Africa have demonstrated the value of soil and plant sensors, satellite imagery, and GIS-linked crop models for supporting site-specific management, e.g., Onyango et al., (2021). These tools can improve the precision of input use and boost productivity. The growing availability of open-access agricultural monitoring systems also presents an opportunity to fill critical data gaps. Platforms at global, continental, regional and national scales now provide land cover, cropland extent, and high-resolution imagery to support research and decision-making for PA implementation.
Policy development at the continental level further reinforces the momentum. The African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030) calls for the integration of PA and data-driven tools into agricultural systems (African Union, 2020). Key objectives within this strategy include (i) adoption of precision agriculture techniques, (ii) the use of data analytics to improve decision-making and the development of digital platforms to connect farmers with markets and financial services, and (iii) development of digital infrastructures including broadband networks and digital payment systems, to support the growth of digital agriculture. Additionally, commitments made during the 2024 Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit that aim to provide location-specific agronomic recommendations to a majority of smallholder farmers by 2034, align closely with the potential of PA to support tailored nutrient management. These policy frameworks offer essential political support to mainstream PA.
Institutionally, the creation of the African Association for Precision Agriculture (AAPA) marks a key milestone. AAPA provides a coordinated platform to promote research, training, advocacy, and policy engagement related to PA across the continent. Its mandate includes capacity development, dissemination of tailored innovations, and facilitation of international collaboration, critical enablers for scaling PA in Africa. Collectively, these technological, policy, and institutional developments offer a strong foundation for expanding PA adoption in support of sustainable agricultural transformation.
Requirements for enhanced adoption of precision agriculture in Africa
Scaling up the adoption of PA in Africa necessitates coordinated efforts from governments, the private sector, research institutions, and farming communities to address persistent socioeconomic and technological challenges. A critical prerequisite is improved internet infrastructure, as limited connectivity currently hinders access to digital farming innovations. Encouragingly, the expansion of 4G networks and data centers across the continent presents opportunities to support digital agriculture. These infrastructure improvements must be complemented by targeted training and capacity building to equip farmers and extension agents with the skills needed to use PA technologies effectively.
Public-private partnerships are also vital for mobilizing investments and facilitating hands-on farmer training. Increased access to consistent, reliable and locally relevant agricultural data is also essential, as nearly half of African countries currently lack the baseline data needed for PA implementation. To address data challenges, supportive policies on data ownership, privacy, and cybersecurity must be developed. Additionally, user-friendly and affordable PA solutions that bridge the skill gap among farmers are needed to catalyze uptake, especially within smallholder systems.
Enhancing PA adoption in Africa additionally requires a nuanced context-specific approach that integrates “soft” (e.g., observational tools and intuitive decision-making) and “hard” (e.g., GPS, remote sensing, and variable rate applicators) technologies. Simple, cost-effective tools such as small machine-based variable rate technology can serve as entry points for individual smallholders, paving the way for more advanced applications such as those that integrate GIS, GPS, variable rate technology, and related tools. Such tiered, context-specific strategies increase the likelihood of successful adoption and can significantly enhance productivity, resilience, and food security across Africa’s diverse agricultural systems.
Dr. Njoroge (e-mail: s.njoroge@apni.net) is a Scientist at the African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI), Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Mugi-Ngenga is Associate Scientist at APNI, Nairobi, Kenya. Ms. Limo is a Research Assistant at APNI, Nairobi, Kenya. Mr. Fakoya is with the School of Collective Intelligence, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguérir, Morocco.
Cite this article
Njoroge, S., Mugi-Ngenga, E., Limo, B.M., Oluwatobi, F. 2025. Precision Agriculture in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. Growing Africa 4(1):2-5. https://doi.org/10.55693/ga41.MBUF4046
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