MBABANE – Ubombo Sugar Limited has taken a major step towards modern, sustainable agriculture after successfully completing its first-ever drone planting trial.
This marked a significant milestone in the company’s drive to improve efficiency and soil health through innovation.
In a post shared earlier this week, the sugar producer revealed that its Agriculture team conducted drone planting of sunhemp — a green manuring crop — across 113 hectares of autumn replant fields.
The initiative represents a shift towards precision agriculture and environmentally responsible farming practices within Eswatini’s sugar industry.
Sunhemp is widely used as a green manure due to its ability to improve soil structure, enhance organic matter, suppress weeds and contribute to long-term soil fertility. By planting the crop using drone technology, Ubombo aims to optimise planting accuracy, while reducing labour intensity and operational costs.
The company described the trial as an ‘exciting shift’ towards more precise, efficient and environmentally conscious agricultural practices, noting that the use of drones allows for uniform seed distribution across large areas in a shorter period of time compared to conventional methods.
“This milestone reaffirms our commitment to modernising the sugar industry through cutting-edge technology and smarter soil health management,” the company said.
The integration of drone technology into farming operations reflects broader trends within global agriculture, where digital tools and automation are increasingly being adopted to improve productivity while minimising environmental impact.
For Ubombo Sugar, the move aligns with its long-standing focus on sustainable agriculture and responsible land management.
Beyond operational efficiency, the company indicated that the initiative supports its environmental objectives by promoting healthier soils, reducing soil disturbance and encouraging regenerative farming practices. Healthier soils are critical to sustaining sugar cane yields over the long term, particularly in the face of climate variability and rising input costs.
Ubombo Sugar indicated that the trial will be closely assessed to determine its effectiveness and potential for wider adoption across its operations. Lessons learnt from the exercise are expected to inform future planting strategies and sustainability initiatives.
“At Ubombo, we are committed to sustainable agriculture,” the company said, underscoring its intention to continue exploring innovative solutions that support environmental stewardship while enhancing operational performance.
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