SES and Advannotech to provide IoT connectivity to South African farmers
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Global satellite operator SES announced on Tuesday it is partnering with IoT technology provider Advannotech and other service providers to enable data-driven farming in South Africa.
SES said the project will leverage IoT over satellite and LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) sensors to monitor soil moisture and temperature, water levels, and environmental factors such as light, CO₂, humidity and air temperature. The sensors will be connected to a cloud-based backend via SES satellites to deliver consistent, real-time data even in remote locations.
The project hopes to enable young farmers to get a feel for data-driven agribusiness while participating in the Enterprising Africa Regional Network (EARN), a hands-on programme combining practical farming, business skills and innovation for success.
EARN – which has successfully completed a three-month proof-of-concept trial of the solution – aims to leverage technology to tackle food insecurity and economic growth through a climate-smart training farm in Centurion, South Africa, said Joshua Ngoma, founder and chief enabler of EARN, which is also the holding company of African Greeneurs, EARN’s youth agribusiness training subsidiary.
“Before these IoT devices were put in the field, everything was guesswork,” Ngoma said in a statement. “We used to water three times a day. But with the information you get on your phone or computer, you know exactly when to water. That saves power and conserves water, a very limited resource.”
The satellite component is critical, as cellular connectivity in South African farming communities is too inconsistent to make full use of IoT technology, added Hans Geldenhuys, director of Africa for SES.
“Through this project we have demonstrated that satellite-enabled IoT in agriculture will assist farmers in making data-driven decisions for higher yields and sustainability, irrespective of location,” he said.
