Rwanda is revolutionizing livestock farming by using drones to deliver pig semen to veterinarians, enabling farmers to access high-quality breeding material faster and more efficiently. This groundbreaking initiative, powered by the U.S.-based robotics company Zipline, is transforming the way pig breeding is managed across the country.
Traditionally, transporting pig semen to remote farms could take seven to eight hours by road. With Zipline’s drone technology, the same delivery now takes just 50 minutes even for round trips covering up to 210 kilometers. Each drone carries up to 3.3 kilograms of semen, enough for over 40 doses to serve 40 pigs.
Prosper Uruvugundi, Zipline’s Parcels Manager, told the media on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, that while farmers were initially hesitant to adopt the technology, demand has since grown rapidly.
’’Today, we deliver more than 100 doses daily, and each pig can give birth to 8 to 16 piglets,” he said.
Zipline collaborates with veterinarians trained by the Rwanda Agriculture Board, who place orders for semen deliveries. Once a drone is dispatched, the recipient receives a text notification, followed by a second alert as the drone approaches the drop-off point.
Uruvugundi showcased this cutting-edge drone delivery system at the African Conference on Agriculture Technologies, held at Kigali Convention Center. The event attracted over 800 participants, including African leaders, innovators, policymakers, and researchers. Notable attendees included former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Rwanda’s Agriculture Minister Mark Bagabe, and African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Board Chair Aggrey Ambali.
Organized by AATF in partnership with the Government of Rwanda, the conference aimed to promote innovative solutions that can drive sustainable agricultural growth across Africa.
Beyond livestock, Zipline’s technology supports a range of critical deliveries. The company partners with several Rwandan government agencies including the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Agriculture Board, and Rwanda Biomedical Center to transport medical supplies, vaccines, blood, and nutrition products quickly and affordably.
Since 2022, Zipline has deepened its collaboration with the Rwandan government, working alongside the Rwanda Development Board to expand the scope and impact of its services.
The conference also unveiled a new electric tractor prototype, the MK1 e-tractor, developed by Volkswagen Group and partners. Powered by swappable batteries, this tractor replaces diesel with clean energy, offering a sustainable mechanization option for small-scale farmers.
While currently charged via Rwanda’s electricity grid, plans are underway to power the batteries using a solar-powered green hub with a 100 kW capacity.
Agriculture Minister Mark Bagabe emphasized the importance of equipping smallholder farmers with modern tools and knowledge to overcome challenges such as climate change and outdated farming practices.
Additionally AATF Executive Director Canisius Kanangire highlighted that farmer-focused technologies, when supported by appropriate policies, can significantly boost productivity and income. Meanwhile, AATF’s Daniel Kyalo also pointed out that processing farm produce locally instead of selling it raw has great potential to enhance rural incomes.
As more cutting-edge solutions like the MK1 e-tractor emerge, Rwanda’s commitment to empowering smallholder farmers with the tools they need to adapt to climate challenges and increase incomes is clear. These advancements, coupled with the right policies, have the potential to drive economic growth and improve livelihoods across the continent.
