by Gerry Lee Gorit
MISAMIS ORIENTAL – Provincial Administrator John Venice L. Ladaga said yesterday that agricultural farmers in the province are going to use drones to gain better yields and better productions.
Ladaga said these drones are used in Vietnam, Thailand and other agricultural countries of the world. “These are the drones used by farmers in Vietnam, Thailand and other countries of the world,” he said in an interview.
“Sa kagustuhan ni Paglaum Governor Peter “Sr. Pedro” M. Unabia nga mas molambo pa ang atong mga farmers, mao ning nag purchase ang probinsya aning mga agriculural drones,” he said
Vice Governor Jeremy Jonahmar “Jigjag” G. Pelaez added that the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental (PGMO) through the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO) in its continued pursuit in alleviating the poverty incidence of the province by uplifting the economic well- being of its farmers intends to adapt technologies associated with precision and smart agriculture using unmanned air vehicle (UAV) or drones.
Pelaez said the use of agricultural drones can offer growers cost-effective solutions for better and more precise crop management, lowered operating costs, more effective use of inputs, and increased marketing yield for our priority crops: coconut coffee, cacao, bamboo, rice and com. Hence, two (2) units of DJI AGRAS T40 Agricultural DRONE SPRAYER Model: DJI T40 Package were recently procured by the Provincial Government in the year 2024.
Each set, Pelaez said, cost over One Million and is equipped with the following accessories:
1-unit 40L Spray Tank Assembly
1-unit spreading system for seeds/granular fertilizers 1-unit Remote Control Set
3-unit intelligent Batteries
1-unit DJl D12000i Multifunctional lnverter Generator EFI with 2 units RTK – a surveying and mapping equipment
Board member Gerardo “Boboy” Sabal III, also said the drones can be available to farmers who are interested to avail a form of custom service for seeding and production input application, the provincial administrator added.
“It is hoped that this support will advance the state of the agricultural sector in the province and consequently will help attain SDPI especially among farmers across the province,” Board member Sabal said.
Meanwhile, Board members Wayne T. Militante, Dexter Yasay and Special Assistant to the Governor Virgelia “Bebing” Dumadag, also told this paper that they are always very supportive of the programs of Governor Unabia.
How does drone technology help farmers?
Crop Scouting and Pest Management: Drones enable farmers to conduct rapid and targeted crop scouting missions, identifying pest infestations, weed outbreaks, and other crop health issues early on. This early detection allows for timely interventions and more effective pest management strategies.
Which drone is used in agriculture?
In agriculture, drones are referred to as UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). These drones come equipped with various sensors, cameras, and data collection tools. They are primarily used for spraying pesticides and nano urea on crops, as well as detecting harmful infections and pest attacks.
The Importance of Technology in Agriculture:
Productivity, efficiency, and profitability are crucial in any agriculture business, making resource management critical. Supply must meet demand despite risks from supply chain disruptions, weather, crop disease, and other threats. Farmers, ranchers, and other small business owners in agriculture industries are increasingly turning to technology, such as agricultural drones, for assistance.
The Role of AgTech:
Agricultural technology, often called AgTech, is transforming the agriculture industry through innovations like high-resolution imagery and ground heat mapping. Drones have become a powerful tool for monitoring crops and livestock, providing expansive and high-resolution imagery and enabling detailed data gathering.
**Regulation and Advancement:
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first granted exemptions for drone use in agriculture in 2015. Since then, agricultural drones (or “ag” drones) have become more sophisticated, employing technologies like 3D imaging to estimate crop height. With the growth of precision agriculture, drones have become integral to farming operations, relying on information technology for management and decision-making.
Functions of Agricultural Drones:
Agricultural drones allow farmers to monitor crop and livestock conditions from the air, helping to identify potential problems and optimize field management. These drones are used for various tasks, including:
Land imaging
Surveying topography and boundaries
Soil monitoring
Livestock movement and counting
Irrigation monitoring
Spraying applications
Collecting soil and water samples
Troubleshooting
Depending on the task, drones can be equipped with various sensors, camera lenses, hooks, sprayers, and even small buckets for sample collection. Data gathered by the drone is streamed back to a tablet or computer, providing valuable information and photos about land, crops, and livestock.
