Robots attract young farmers in Cote d'Ivoire

With the ambitious end-goal of tempting a younger workforce into farming, a competitive robotics event is currently underway in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire's erstwhile capital.

Harnessing young people's curiosity for AI, robotics and technology, and its application in the agricultural field, the government's optimistic it will not only make farming life more appealing, but also positively impact yields.

Fulfilling 40 percent of the world's cocoa demands, agriculture is the mainstay of this nation's economy. Yet farming is perceived as strenuous and poorly recompensed, with the result that young people are shunning agriculture, which is bad news given that three quarters of Ivorians are actually under 35.

This contestant, Pele Ouattara, clarifies why he's involved.

Pele Ouattara: "I come from a family of farmers. My passion for robotics has actually added to my desire to improve the conditions in which my parents used to farm."

The biggest hurdle when it comes to the deployment of robots, drones and digital solutions is probably outlay. Simply using a modestly-sized drone for misting crops with pesticides might incur costs over and above U$16,000, which is six months' revenue for a smallholding.

However, of late the technology is attainable thanks to new start-up companies renting out agricultural equipment. Faustin Zongo, a farmer for much of his life, was taken aback by the drone's efficiency.

Faustin Zongo: "Usually, it takes at least two days to cover one hectare. So with the drone, I see that we have sprayed 5 hectares. I don't know how long it took, but it was no more than two hours."

Government plans are afoot for innovative technological transformation in the shape of a manufacturing and training hub for agricultural tech, aimed at making hardware affordable. Meanwhile, independent enterprises are offering farmers the opportunity to better manage yields by implementing AI.

The modernisation of archaic agricultural practices is helping to draw younger generations back to the land, according to Nozene Ble Binate.

Nozene Ble Binate: "There are more and more young people returning to the land and who are interested - who come to us to use, to request the drone for their fields because they've realised that the real treasure lies in the land." View Less