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Univen students build smart sprayer to target weeds and save crops

Eco-friendly farming: a smart sprayer's impact on crops and soil

By Thembi Siaga • 4 December 2025
Univen students build smart sprayer to target weeds and save crops

University of Venda students developed a smart herbicide sprayer that uses AI to target weeds, significantly reducing chemical waste and environmental impact. This innovative, solar-rechargeable device helps smallholder farmers minimize chemical exposure and modernize agriculture.

Two final-year agricultural and rural engineering students at the University of Venda (Univen) have developed a smart herbicide sprayer that reduces chemical waste and protects the environment.

Ipfi Tshivhase, from Tshilapfene village, and Thapelo Ramphisa, from Elandskraal, designed, built, and tested the device as part of their final-year agricultural and biosystems engineering project.

“We designed a sprayer for smallholder farmers that captures images with a camera. The images...

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