Benefit of IoT-enabled devices, networks
Concept of smart farming has been gaining remarkable traction around the world in the past few years
THE DEPLOYMENT of the Internet of Things (IoT) is set to ignite an agricultural revolution and mobile operator Vodacom has set its sights on being a major player in the space.
The operator said its IoT business was at the forefront of innovation, supporting sustainable agricultural practices across the continent.
William Mzimba, the chief enterprise officer of Vodacom Business, told the media on the sideline of the AfricaCom summit, that IoT was expected to help improve agricultural productivity and increase incomes in the agriculture sector.
“If you take all the advances in the IoT space, we no longer have to depend on the knowledge of farmers to produce crop, we can now augment the knowledge of farmers who are not so experienced. The technology can inform farmers which crop has the highest yields if it is planted during a certain time of the season,” Mzimba said.
The company is adamant that its technology can automate processes in planting, treatment and harvesting to reduce resource consumption and cost.
The technology also has the capability to visualise production levels, soil moisture and sunlight intensity in real time and remotely, and reduce production costs and waste by optimising the use of inputs such as water and pesticides. In recent years the group has increasingly looked at the agricultural sector to unlock growth in its business unit.
Last year the company launched its Connected Farmer platform, a cloud-based web and mobile software solution that will link thousands of smallholder farmers to the agriculture value chain, enabling access to information, services and markets.
Cisco, Comsol and NIL earlier this year announced an agreement to help accelerate the adoption of IoT-enabled devices and networks with applications such as “intelligent farming” and Smart City technologies in South Africa.
The concept of intelligent farming has gained traction around the world in the past few years.
According to a new market intelligence report by BIS Research, the global smart farming market is expected to reach $23.14 billion by 2022, rising at a compound annual growth rate of 19.3 percent from 2017 to 2022.
Meanwhile, Vodacom has announced that Peter Malebye has replaced Deon Liebenberg as managing executive for IOT Africa Vodacom Group Business. The company said Malebye would be responsible for driving thought leadership, strategic direction, business development and the sustained growth of Vodacom’s IOT business across the continent.
Malebye said the IoT capability would be a significant enabler in ensuring that the country participates fully in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.