The Organic Farming Academy (OFA) is celebrating a major milestone as its systems administrator, Talent Jokonya, has successfully completed an intensive two-week drone pilot training programme, earning his wings as a certified drone operator.
The training, conducted by Afrostain College, blended theoretical lessons, advanced simulations, and hands-on practical sessions to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of drone technology.
Reflecting on the demanding course,Jokonya shared his experience:
“It was quite a hectic two weeks of both theoretical and practical lessons, with exams after every session.Most of the time, I would only get to sleep in the early hours of the morning.”
At OFA, Jokonya manages the organisation’s digital traceability system,Rural Sourcing,a mobile application designed by German software giant SAP.The platform is used by OFA’s partner, Organic Africa, to ensure end-to-end traceability of products from farm to fork. Key features such as farmer registration, field mapping, and digital buying streamline operations while enhancing transparency and accountability.
With drone operation now added to his skill set, OFA is set to expand its technological offerings into precision farming, an innovation-driven approach that leverages automation for efficient and data-driven agriculture.
“I’m grateful to OFA for this opportunity.Not only has it boosted my professional growth in the IT field, but it has also positioned the organisation to deliver more cutting-edge technology services to our partners,”Jokonya noted.
Afrostain College, the institution behind the training, is the brainchild of young entrepreneur Wenceslous Nyamupfukudza. It has quickly risen to become one of Zimbabwe’s premier drone pilot training institutions