SORA Technology Launches Business Development Initiative for Precision Agriculture Services in Tanzania’s Cashew Nut Sector
SORA Technology Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan; Founder & CEO: Yosuke Kaneko; hereafter “SORA Technology”), which provides advanced drone and AI solutions across public health, agriculture, and climate resilience, has launched a business development initiative to explore precision agriculture services for cashew nut production in southern Tanzania. The initiative is being conducted under a service contract with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as part of UNIDO’s “Capacity-building for Japan-Africa business partnerships project.”
Illustration of precision agriculture services for cashew nut farming
In this project, SORA Technology will work with its local partner, Tanzania Cashew Growers PLC (TCG), over a period of approximately two months to identify opportunities for precision agriculture services that combine drones, satellite data, and AI in Tanzania’s cashew nut sector.
Background
Cashew nuts are one of Tanzania’s important agricultural products, with many farmers engaged in their production, particularly in the southern regions of the country. As the sector continues to develop, digital technologies offer opportunities to better understand conditions across widely dispersed farmland and provide growers with information, such as crop growth conditions, to support their decision-making.
SORA Technology has deployed solutions across Africa that combine satellite data, drones, and AI to harness data collected from the sky to address social challenges. Building on these technologies and expertise, SORA Technology will apply them to the agricultural sector to identify potential applications for precision agriculture services and advance business opportunities in Tanzania’s cashew nut sector.
TCG, SORA Technology’s local partner in this project, is an aggregator of cashew nut growers in Tanzania. According to TCG, it has a network of approximately 180 large-scale farmers and more than 1,800 smallholder farmers. Through collaboration with TCG and its network of growers, SORA Technology aims to deepen its understanding of local needs and agricultural conditions while strengthening relationships that can support future business development.
Business Development Activities
As part of its business development activities, SORA Technology will explore the potential application of satellite data for monitoring farmland over wide areas, drones for collecting detailed data, and AI for data analysis in cashew nut production in southern Tanzania.
Over the approximately two-month period, SORA Technology will conduct market assessments and field verification to better understand local production conditions, the needs of cashew nut growers, and opportunities for applying these technologies. These activities will support SORA Technology’s efforts to strengthen local collaboration and identify opportunities for precision agriculture services.
Building on insights gained through collaboration with local partners and growers, SORA Technology will continue to strengthen its local network and pursue opportunities for future business growth, while leveraging technology to support the agricultural sector in Tanzania and across Africa.
Company Profile
Company Name: SORA Technology Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: 2-14-1 Nagono, Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Representative: Yosuke Kaneko (Founder & CEO)
Established: 2020
Business: Development and provision of drone- and AI-powered technologies for infectious disease control, agricultural support, and climate adaptation.
Mission: SORA Technology is committed to the mission of “Transforming lives from the sky (SORA).” By leveraging advanced drone and AI technologies, the company aims to help build safe and prosperous societies anywhere in the world. Centered in Africa and other developing regions, SORA provides a wide range of services, from infectious disease surveillance and control to agricultural productivity enhancement and climate adaptation support.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sora-technology/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sora.technology/
