A Chinese agricultural investment company, Smartisan Investment Nigeria Limited, has introduced a new drone crop-spraying technology aimed at improving farm productivity and reducing production costs for farmers in Kano State.
The innovation, widely referred to as an agricultural spraying drone, was showcased during a field demonstration on Monday in Kura Local Government Area, Kano State.
Charles Lee, the company’s representative who has lived in Nigeria for 16 years, explained that the drone can replace the labour-intensive manual method of applying fertilisers and agrochemicals.
“The device can do the work of about 40 labourers in a single day, enabling farmers to complete large-scale spraying in just a few hours. Delays associated with manual spraying often lead to huge losses during pest outbreaks because many farmers cannot cover their fields within the critical treatment window of two to three days,” Lee said.
He added, “With this machine, a farmer can spray 10 hectares in one day. When pests strike, every hour matters because damage can reach up to 50 percent. This technology allows for quick and effective response.”
According to Lee, the spraying system has already been deployed in China, Kenya, and Mozambique, where it has increased farmers’ harvests by 15 to 20 per cent annually.
The drone atomizes chemicals into ultra-fine particles of about 10 micrometres, ensuring deeper penetration and complete coverage of both sides of leaves.
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Lee noted that the technology also reduces chemical usage by up to 40 percent, lowering overall costs for farmers.
“Hand-spraying wastes a lot of chemical. With this system, the chemical becomes a fine mist that reaches places human hands cannot. It cuts cost, increases yield, and is more environmentally friendly,” he said.
The demonstration was organised to help stakeholders understand the technology and its benefits.
Timely Technology
The Chairman of the Kura Local Government Farmers’ Association, Usman Abdulmalik Kura, described the technology as timely, noting that farmers are grappling with rising production costs and persistent labour shortages.
“Many farmers can no longer afford labour for spraying, and pest attacks are becoming more common. Any innovation that saves cost and boosts yield is greatly welcomed,” he said, calling on government agencies and development partners to support farmers in accessing the equipment.
He added that affordability would determine the technology’s adoption.
Some farmers who attended the demonstration expressed optimism.
Kabiru Sani, a rice farmer, said the drone could be a “game changer,” particularly for large farms.
“Sometimes it takes us two to three days to spray just five hectares, and by then pests have already caused damage. If this machine works as demonstrated, it will save us from serious losses,” he said.
Another participant, Rabi Ibrahim, who cultivates maize and vegetables, noted that reduced chemical use would benefit both farmers and consumers.
“Agrochemicals are very expensive now. If this machine can achieve better results using less chemical, it is good for us and safer for the food we produce,” she said.
Farmers at the event urged Smartisan Investment Nigeria Limited to collaborate with cooperatives and offer flexible payment plans, noting that many smallholder farmers may struggle with outright purchase of the equipment.