Banks in Ghana have traditionally been reluctant to lend to agriculture because of the perception of its high-risk nature and the lack of adequate risk management tools in connection with existential risks such as disease, pests and changes in climatic factors.
However, Emmanuel Appiah, farming at Nsadwi in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abbrem district has now found immense hope in technology, courtesy of drones and precision agriculture to transform his production to a higher level. The Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension of the University of Cape Coast and its partners are assisting smallholder farmers with relevant and real-time information on pineapple production processes required by farmers to produce varieties that are important for the market and in the most productive way.
The drone technology is providing farmers with reliable information based on the farmers’ own land and crop requirements to optimise crop production, produce high quality fruits, minimise production cost, and meet consumer preferences.
“Since I started the programme it has given me more knowledge. Two or three years ago, I had about two or three acres but now, only this year, I have planted 6 acres of pineapples and look forward to expanding even further,” Appiah said.