Products & Services
a eld , we can service almost any part of the continent . And because our product has been developed with our continent in mind , we are constantly learning from our clients , constantly improving and making it easier to access , and always trying to keep the cost relevant to the local , African market . �at is why our introductory offer of $ 75.00 ( R950.00 ) per month for the full satellite product over any farm up to 10 000 hectares makes such sense . We wanted to bring the value usually available only to large-scale farmers in areas like the US and Europe , to farmers here .
On drones and what to look for We know that the drone space is rapidly changing , and the seemingly newest “ best thing ” changes daily . What we have found , though , is to focus on what is really important : the relevant crop , sensor and requisite data . So as drones become more ubiquitous in the sky ( Africa is fast approaching 3 million civilian drones in its airspace ), allow us to share a few hard-earned learnings :
1 . �e drone is just the vehicle for the sensor . Get a good one that will t the area that you want to observe . If the area is large elds , a xed-wing drone makes more sense , like the senseFly eBee SQ . For small areas , or areas where elephants eat your crop , a multi-rotor like the DJI Phantom 2 or 3 ( elephants associate their buzzing with that of bees ).
2 . Test , test again , and try a third time . Don ' t buy a drone in haste . Rather try a few , and nd what works best for you .
3 . Get the correct sensors . If you want to observe plant health , a Near Infra-Red ( NIR / NDVI ) sensor is required .
4 . Understand that buying the drone is only the rst step . O�en , image processing so�ware , extra training , insurance , extra batteries and spares ( and a very large credit limit ) is required . At DroneClouds we have learned to cut through that , by allowing farmers to send us their images , and we will process it for them .
5 . �ere is no such thing as a silver bullet . What may work in one area , might not work in another . Small elds are very expensive to measure with a drone , depending on the relevant crop . Satellites make more sense over elds of single , uniform crops like maize and wheat .
6 . Remember that seeing the problem area is only the rst step .
And when you do decide to buy a drone , keep the following in mind .
1 . Make sure that your supplier has a service network or capability in your country . �ere is nothing as frustrating as having to wait for spares .
2 . Fly safely , and learn to manage your b atteries ( w h e n operating batterypowered drones ) or f u e l ( f o r f u e l - p o w e r e d c r a � ) . Rather err on the side of caution , than having to go look for a lost drone .
3 . When ying in a c o u n t r y w i t h l i c e n s i n g requirements , get yourself licensed . It might be difficult or a hassle , but the e c o n o m i c opportunities for q u a l i e d d r o n e pilots around the world , especially in Africa , is rapidly increasing . By being a quali ed pilot , and connecting to your l o c a l C i v i l U n m a n n e d A v i a t i o n Association ( like C U A A S A f o r Southern Africa ) allows you to keep up to date with new rules , regulations , and industry expectations . It also allows others to refer work to you in times where the farming season is slow .
4 . Have fun . It is a very young , rapidly c h a n g i n g a n d v e r y e x c i t i n g opportunity , especially here in Africa . We have diverse weather , topography , climate and laws , which makes it an amazing place to y . And once you have seen the bene ts that the drone industry can bring to your farm , we don ' t think you ' d want to go back .
5 . R e m e m b e r : h at , s u n g l a s s e s , sunscreen , sunscreen , sunscreen .
6 . And always more sunscreen .
www . droneclouds . com
May - June 2017
FARMERS
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