Aid from above: drones for sustainable agriculture in Otjisa rural community

Otjisa, a rural community in the Kunene region of Namibia, has continually challenging agricultural conditions due to irregular rainfall and low soil quality, which negatively affects livelihoods and food security. The inadequacy of conventional farming practices has made innovative alternatives essential to improve agricultural productivity. By enhancing field analysis, irrigation management, and overall agricultural sustainability, this study suggests using drone technology to address these problems. Focus groups and community-based co design techniques will be used in this qualitative research study to involve community members in the development of drone applications that are customised to Otjisa's unique requirements. The data will be gathered and narratively analysed to assess the technical feasibility of drone deployment in local farming operations within Otjisa. By encouraging sustainable farming and strengthening community resilience, the project seeks to close the gap between conventional agricultural methods and modern technology. This research has significance because it could provide a scalable model for other areas with comparable agricultural problems, supporting larger initiatives in rural development and sustainable agriculture.