Burundi: Young man creates ant-robot to rescue agriculture

In Burundi, more than 80% of the population derive their subsistence from agriculture while the vast majority of the poor are peasants who practice subsistence farming (WB). For this reason, it is essential to save, while there is still time, this still very dynamic, weakly developed and artisanal agriculture through the introduction of modern technology (robotics), intervenes young Armel Akimana, the roboticist who invented the country's first ant-robot.

This young man, 29 years old, a roboticist and specialist in automated systems, created this first machine which is more or less autonomous and will perform different tasks depending on users. Today, at its third version, the device is designed first and foremost as a sprayer for phytosanitary products and weeding which can also do many other agricultural activities as needed, specifies roboticist Akimana.

Solutions on the table

According to Armel Akimana, the machine will provide farmers with two different solutions for agricultural activities. In the fully automated option, weeding and spraying are performed autonomously by the robot. In the partially automated option, the device is equipped with an intelligent control box to automate processes.

"It has the role of helping farmers get rid of repetitive tasks in different contexts, from orchards to vineyards and thus increase production," he explains.

According to Professor researcher Terence Niyonsaba, who recalls upfront that the device is the product of a report from his student's internship (Armel Akimana) from July 2021, at the University of Lake Tanganyika. He who supervised him during his internship subsequently confirmed his support for the initial idea of this mechatronic device which will meet the SDGs in the fight against hunger "such is the government's commitment."

To conclude, he relayed the message from the president of the republic "every mouth has food and every pocket has money," to show the struggle that the machine will support.

Ant-robot within reach of farmers

"The business model I want to develop consists of manufacturing several robots that will remain the property of the company I will create. Farmers will rent in such a way that one pays for example 1 million Burundian francs and the company sends a team and about ten robots that will do the job faster than the farmers, explains his vision young roboticist Armel Akimana, who could save Burundi's agriculture.

During these agricultural works, the roboticist indicates that the farmer will no longer have to worry about electrical energy because it is his team that will take care of it. "And otherwise the production cost, I estimate it around 5 million francs, he concludes.

Akimana's ant-robot is an intelligent machine manufactured locally, capable of performing tasks and operating independently within an environment, without human control or intervention.

Freddy Bin Sengi