A satellite-based augmentation sys- tem (SBAS) that could help gene- rate more crops and boost sales in South Africa’s agriculture sector has been proposed by the UK Space Agency-funded SBAS-Africa programme.

The SBAS-Africa programme, aims at demonstrating the potential benefits of SBAS capabilities in Southern and Eastern Africa, has deployed a live test-bed service and performed successful user trials and produced a preliminary business case for the South African government to introduce SBAS services across a range of sectors in the country.

In addition to being funded by the UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Space Programme, the R150-million SBAS-Africa programme has established a unique colla- boration between the UK and South Africa through the South African National Space Agency (Sansa).

An update on the SBAS-Africa programme was given at a workshop in Cape Town last week, highlighting agriculture as an area where an SBAS could make a significant impact.

Recent SBAS trials conducted at Stellenbosch University showed that it could provide 30 cm to 50 cm pass-to-pass accuracy suitable for precision farming. This could deliver 5% yield improvements through better crop information and mana- gement, as well as 10% cost savings on fuel, fertilisers and pesticides.

Sansa chief engineer Eugene Avenant notes that, while large farms already use expensive and high-accuracy Global Positioning System services to maximise production and control costs, many small and midsize farms could not afford these services. Subsistence farming in rural areas is also the only source of food for many people.

“If the system was introduced as public infrastructure and free of direct user charges, it would allow low-income farmers and cooperatives to access this technology. This would help boost crops and reduce costs, so that farmers, for example, don’t over- or underfertilise.

“It would help them improve their own operations, from planting to harvest,” Avenant tells Engineering News.

Trials showed that, using SBAS precision farming, a typical midsize cereal farm could reduce yearly variable costs by up to R1-million, as well as increase yield by over 300 t.

Overall, it is estimated that the use of SBAS in South Africa can generate an additional 170 000 t of cereal a year, gene- rating R300-million and increasing sales by R200-million.

Spearheaded by Avanti Communications, the SBAS-Africa project uses two Avanti satellites, ARTEMIS and HYLAS 2, and can use drones to survey land and crops. It can also track the location of farm equipment and machinery, manage and monitor contractors and map assets both above and below ground.

Avanti Communications’ David Hill says he is pleased with the performance of SBAS tests in South Africa, adding that a system can be deployed in Southern Africa in time, after which it can be extended further into Africa.

Researchers have said that the introduc- tion of an SBAS is needed in light of longer-term climate change, water scarcity and periodic El Niño effects, which threaten food security, productivity and income.