Drone: New "assistant" for farmers

According to Mr. Huynh Tan Dat, Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ), drones are being widely used in spraying pesticides, precise watering, sowing, fertilizing and crop monitoring. The device helps reduce the amount of pesticides by 20-30%, saves up to 90% of labor, limits direct contact with toxic chemicals, and reduces environmental impact thanks to the even and precise amount of pesticides and water sprayed.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Manh, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has developed many projects emphasizing the application of science and technology and digital transformation in cultivation, in which drones are a prominent technology that brings practical efficiency, especially in remote areas, complex terrain or high-canopy crops.

In the process of promoting farmers' access to new technology, the Vietnam CropLife Association is considered one of the pioneers. Representative of the association, Mr. Dang Quoc Thang - Head of the Drone group, shared: "Around 2017-2018, Vietnamese farmers began testing drones. At first, people were hesitant, but thanks to businesses like CropLife supporting the pilot, training and communication, farmers gradually got used to it and clearly saw the benefits of the technology."

CropLife not only organizes training courses on operation and safety, but also coordinates with the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection to develop technical guidelines for spraying pesticides using drones. This is an important document, helping farmers and flight service teams clearly understand the "4 rights" process (right medicine, right dosage, right time, right way), ensuring safety for people, crops and the environment.

In particular, in 2024, CropLife and the Plant Protection Department released a video instructing on the safe use of drones, popularizing it on media channels such as Facebook and YouTube. Mr. Thang emphasized: "We want to spread the message of safety and efficiency to as many farmers as possible, and at the same time develop an online training platform to support farmers in proactively accessing technology."

Challenges and development directions

Despite the many benefits, drone adoption still faces many challenges. High investment costs, small-scale production, and limited operating personnel are major barriers. In addition, the legal framework for flight operations, licensing, and technical standards for drug preparation still need to be improved and updated.

To overcome this, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities are promoting the formation of drone service teams, especially in concentrated production areas. This is considered an optimal solution, helping small-scale farmers still have access to modern technology. According to statistics, by the end of 2024, the number of agricultural drones in Vietnam will exceed 6,000, mainly concentrated in the Southwest - where there are large areas of rice and fruit trees.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Manh said that in addition to spraying pesticides, drones can also expand their applications such as sowing, transporting agricultural products, monitoring fields, and collecting data to forecast pests and productivity. "Drones will not only be spraying tools, but will become 'multi-purpose assistants' for farmers," he emphasized.

In the context of climate change, aging rural labor and increasing demand for sustainable production, drones are considered one of the important solutions to promote mechanization and modernization of Vietnamese agriculture.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection also noted three important points when bringing drones into the fields: First, drones must be registered, have a flight permit, and comply with the Ministry of National Defense's regulations on altitude and flight area.

Second, operators must only use pesticides that are on the list of pesticides permitted in Vietnam and have been certified by the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection as qualified to spray by drone. Third, operators must be trained, have a drone operating license, and have a good understanding of regulations on airspace safety and the safe use of pesticides.

With the support of CropLife and regulatory agencies, this technology promises to continue to spread, helping farmers save costs, increase productivity and move towards green, safe and sustainable agriculture.

Do Huong

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/drone-tro-thu-moi-cua-nha-nong-102250920110244485.htm