Crop Sprayer App: Dosage calculator for plant protection products

Optimizing Pesticide Application for Sustainable Agriculture

The Crop Sprayer App enables users to determine accurate pesticide dosages by considering factors such as sprayer tank size, sprayer output, and application area. It calculates the amount of pesticide concentrate needed per tank and the total quantity for the entire spraying operation. The app operates offline after initial download, ensuring accessibility in remote areas.

This technology is pre-validated.

9•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 9/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive medium

Adult users will gain ability to quickly run important calculations on product use. This is to avoid errors during manual miscalculation which may increase risks to the individual and the environment, and cause more product to be applied than required.

The poor: Positive medium

Smallholder farmers in low and lower middle income countries are the ultimate beneficiary of this technology. Knowing the right application of crop protection products should reduce the risk of too much being purchased and applied.

Women: Positive medium

The tool has been designed to be available in local languages, and to work offline and on lower specification phones that we found women farmers and advisors have available.

Biodiversity: Not verified

The judicious use of crop protection products as a result of using the Crop Sprayer app may reduce run-off or impacts on non-target organisms, but this has not been tested.

Environmental health: Not verified

The judicious use of crop protection products as a result of using the Crop Sprayer app may reduce the amount of product that gets applied, and reduce the amount that may end up as run-off, but this has not been tested.

Problem

Food Security Challenges: Up to 40% of crops are lost to pests and diseases, directly impacting the food security of vulnerable communities and hindering sustainable development efforts.
Inefficient Pesticide Use: Research indicates that up to 75% of pesticide applications are misapplied or overused. This inefficiency increases production costs, contributes to environmental degradation, and jeopardizes community health.
Barriers to Sustainable Farming: The lack of precise pesticide application tools prevents smallholder farmers from adopting efficient, sustainable practices, undermining efforts to improve livelihoods and promote long-term agricultural resilience.

Solution

Sustainable Pesticide Application: The Crop Sprayer App ensures precise pesticide dosing, reducing chemical waste by up to 25–30% and minimizing environmental harm. This contributes to improved crop yields and food security in vulnerable communities.
Capacity Building and Training: Its user-friendly interface and offline functionality make the app an ideal tool for training smallholder farmers and agricultural advisors in safe, efficient pest management practices.
Data-Driven Decision Making: The app collects reliable data on pesticide usage, enabling development partners to monitor program impact, optimize resource allocation, and design targeted interventions for sustainable agriculture.
Empowering Communities: By reducing input costs and increasing productivity, the technology supports livelihood improvements, contributing to poverty reduction and long-term agricultural resilience.

Key points to design your program

The Crop Sprayer App is designed to enhance agricultural productivity, promote environmental sustainability, and ensure the safety of pesticide applicators. By facilitating precise pesticide application, it contributes to efficient pest and disease management while mitigating the impacts of climate change.

To integrate this technology in your program, key activities are:

Community Engagement: Implement awareness campaigns within target communities to promote the adoption of the Crop Sprayer App, focusing on its benefits for health, environment, and productivity.
Capacity Building: Organize training sessions for local farmers and agricultural advisors to ensure effective utilization of the app, fostering self-reliance and sustainable practices.
Resource Provision: Allocate funds for procuring Android devices and data plans necessary for app operation in under-resourced areas.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish metrics to assess the app's impact on pesticide usage, crop yields, and environmental health, using data to inform future agricultural interventions.

0 USD

Crop sprayer App

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Burundi	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Malawi	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
South Sudan	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Uganda	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Zambia	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–	–	–
Semiarid	–		–
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Improves crop yields through effective pest management.

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Enhances agricultural productivity and economic opportunities.

Goal 12: responsible production and consumption

Encourages efficient use of agricultural inputs, reducing waste.

Download and Setup: Download the app for free on an Android device. Available in multiple languages (English, Spanish, French, Bengali, Swahili, Telugu, Portuguese, Hindi, Nepali, Urdu, Sindhi, Dari/Persian, Pashto, Vietnamese, Thai), the app is ready to use immediately.
Simply enter the field details, sprayer type, and product information, and the app will calculate the precise dosage while providing additional guidance on safer spraying.
Set-Up: Assemble your sprayer and adjust the nozzle to achieve the required spray pattern.
Filling: Add the recommended pesticide or organic solution to the tank.
Application: Walk through the field methodically to ensure even coverage, adjusting the spray volume as needed.
Cleaning: Clean the sprayer thoroughly after use to maintain efficiency and longevity.