Maghreb Farmers Embrace Drones to Fight Climate Change

AFP/APP

Tunisia: A drone buzzed back and forth above rows of verdant orange trees planted near Nabeul, eastern Tunisia.

The black unmanned aircraft, equipped with a multi-lens camera and sensors, has been enlisted by Tunisian farmers to help adapt to years of drought and erratic weather patterns caused by climate change.“The seasons are not like they were before, when we knew exactly what to do,” said farmer Yassine Gargouri, noting that temperatures can now begin to climb as early as May, while in August there have been unusual summer rains.

He hired start-up RoboCare to scan the trees from the air and assess their hydration levels, soil quality, and overall health—to prevent irreversible damage.

The technology “provides us with information on how much water each plant needs—no more, no less,” he said.The use of modern technologies in agriculture is globally on the rise, including in North Africa, where countries rank among the world’s 33 most water-stressed, according to the World Resources Institute.

RoboCare, employing about 10 people, is the only company in Tunisia, according to its 35-year-old founder, Imen Hbiri, to use drones to help farmers combat the impacts of climate change and reduce costs, crop losses, and water consumption.

“Resorting to modern technologies in the sector of agriculture has become inevitable,” Hbiri told AFP while monitoring the drone’s path on her computer screen.