The Viability of Launching an Acoustic-Based Deterrent Solution in Rural Kenya for Smallholder Rice Farmers

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Restricted (Penn State Only)
Author:
Armanini, Joseph
Area of Honors:
Engineering Design
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
John Gershenson, Thesis Supervisor
Sven G Bilén, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
red-billed quelea
smallholder
bioacoustics
policy
solution
Abstract:
Historically, Kenya has been known as a strong agriculture industry-based country in Africa, specializing in tea, coffee, maize, sugarcane, and rice crops. However, changes in weather patterns due to climate across the continent created an invasive species epidemic for farmers. The red billed quelea—a small, ravenous bird from sub-Saharan Africa—poses a huge threat to Kenyan agriculture. Queleas feed on aromatic crops such as sorghum, maize, and rice found throughout Kenya. They are capable of decimating acres of farmland each day by traveling in massive swarms from farm to farm. This thesis explores the ability for a social entrepreneurship venture to launch successfully in the Kenyan smallholder farmer economy while also effectively battling the effects of the red-billed quelea. Three separate methods of research were conducted to gather information on farmer needs, business logistics, and existing product capabilities. Surveys were conducted to learn how farmers obtain equipment and who they trust. An in-person Co-Design event was held in Kenya to learn further information on equipment ownership, on-site expenses for farmers, and the accompanying profit margins. The information from the first two components of research informed the business model to introduce bioacoustics to speakers, which is a rental service model. Bioacoustics will be handled by trained individuals specializing in performing maintenance and security routines on speakers, as well as installation, delivery, and execution of using speakers to scare the birds. Finally, simulations of existing bioacoustic speakers were performed to quantify coverage of a standard plot of land with suitable sound to deter birds. Together, the results of each research method created a final conclusion stating the inability for a new solution such as bioacoustics to exist without intervention from higher powers, specifically the Kenyan government. Current bioacoustic speakers on the market are not at a comparable price to the status quo. Speakers that are effective enough to successfully provide coverage to one acre square plots are extremely expensive and require infrastructure changes to schemes for installation, which is unrealistic. Therefore, the proper approach to addressing the issue is by intervening with another, high capitol power to fund a scheme-wide service. The impact of creating a new solution with bioacoustics would prevent the decimation of smallholder farmers’ land annually, and return up to 50% yield of crops lost to the invasive queleas, taking another step in solving a problem that impacts millions of farmers each harvesting season.