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Precision Crop Farming Framework for Small-Scale Rainfed Agriculture Using UAV RGB High-Resolution Imagery

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  • Bolo, Basuti
  • Zlotnikova, Irina
  • Mpoeleng, Dimane

Abstract

This paper presents a precision crop farming framework developed for small-scale rainfed agriculture using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) red, green, and blue (RGB) high-resolution imagery. The aim is to enhance farm management by providing precise spatial and temporal information in heterogeneous farming systems in Botswana's semi-arid regions. The precision crop farming framework integrates UAVs and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, introducing new vegetation indices and employing machine learning algorithms for high-accuracy crop and land use analysis. The framework comprises four components: data collection, applications, data processing, and users. Methods included UAV data acquisition, global navigation satellite system geo-referencing, and machine learning classification. Results demonstrated high spatial resolution and classification accuracy, providing actionable insights into crop conditions, planting patterns, and farm variability. The precision crop farming framework is a tool for improving agricultural productivity and sustainability, providing a foundation for efficient, data-driven farm management practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Bolo, Basuti & Zlotnikova, Irina & Mpoeleng, Dimane, 2025. "Precision Crop Farming Framework for Small-Scale Rainfed Agriculture Using UAV RGB High-Resolution Imagery," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 17(1), March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aolpei:355695
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.355695
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    References listed on IDEAS

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