Muslim engineer from Nigeria develops crop-monitoring drone to boost farm yields
25-year-old aerospace graduate says device detects plant diseases, sprays pesticides and protects farmers’ health
KADUNA, Nigeria (MNTV) — A young Nigerian engineer has created a drone that can detect crop diseases and spray pesticides, aiming to help farmers increase yields, save time and reduce health risks from chemical exposure.
Shamsudeen Jibril, 25, an aerospace engineering graduate from Kaduna State in northern Nigeria, said the unmanned aerial vehicle scans farmland from above to spot signs of disease.
The system sends the findings to a farmer’s smartphone with treatment and prevention recommendations.
“My father was a civil servant but also farmed,” Jibril told Turkey’s Anadolu Agency.
“He carried heavy loads while spraying and was exposed to chemicals. That inspired me to create this drone.”
The device can operate for about an hour per flight and is mostly made from locally sourced materials, though imported engines and control systems drive up costs and slow production.
Farmers who tested it reported faster disease detection, more efficient spraying and less pesticide exposure.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has been increasingly turning to homegrown technology to tackle food insecurity. Jibril hopes to secure government or private funding to produce the drone at scale and expand its use across Africa.
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