The aspiration to "fly" over the hills and slopes.

Following the successful 2025 coffee harvest, with profits reaching 150 million VND/hectare, two farmers, Lo Van Miu and Quang Van Nhat, in Nam Lau commune, made a bold decision to pool their resources to purchase drones for crop care. This breakthrough in thinking has freed up labor for their families and is reshaping the landscape of modern, sustainable agriculture for hundreds of hectares of crops on the steep hillsides.

Officials from Nam Lau commune (standing in the middle) and farmers from the commune discuss the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for agricultural production.

Miracles from the hillsides

We arrived at Pa O village, Nam Lau commune, on a dry, sunny day. Along the winding concrete roads around the hillside, the lively laughter and chatter of villagers heading to their fields filled the air. Unlike the familiar scene of farmers hunched over, carrying heavy containers of pesticides, trudging up steep slopes, a completely different scene was unfolding.

That was the moment when Mr. Lo Van Miu and Mr. Quang Van Nhat were preparing to spray fertilizer on their family's coffee plantation. No longer having to climb up the coffee hills, now the farmers stand right on the concrete road within the village, pressing control buttons. A few meters away, a large unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) hissed softly and soared into the air, gliding over the lush green coffee foliage like a giant bird.

Farmers in Nam Lau commune use drones to spray pesticides on their crops.

While intently watching the control screen, Mr. Lo Van Miu excitedly shared with us how he came to own this "flying assistant": "Through watching TV and reading newspapers, I learned that in some lowland areas, farmers have been using drones to support production with great results. At the end of 2025, with the profits from the coffee harvest, I discussed it with Mr. Nhat and we decided to invest. The two of us pooled nearly 400 million VND to buy this equipment to serve the coffee, rice, and fruit trees of our two families and other villagers."

Mr. Quang Van Nhat shared: "To legally operate drones, we must strictly adhere to government regulations. Before each spraying session, we have to apply for flight permits. Initially, we were unfamiliar with the procedures, but thanks to the guidance from the supplier and support from the local authorities, the flight permit application was completed in full, allowing us to produce with peace of mind and ensuring safety."

Currently, Miu's family owns nearly 5 hectares of coffee trees, while Nhat's family has over 6 hectares. Last year, despite somewhat harsh weather resulting in a lower yield, the coffee prices reached record highs. After deducting all expenses, each hectare of coffee brought in between 130 and 150 million VND. This money served as a springboard for the two brothers to bring digital technology to their village. Since the end of the 2025 coffee harvest, their drone has been deployed three times across the same plot of land. The first time was to spray and wash the trees after harvest; the second time was to spray for pest and disease control; and the third time is the current application of fruit-enhancing fertilizer.

Farmer Quang Van Nhat mixes pesticides into the tank of a drone, preparing to spray them on his crops.

Standing beside his coffee plantation laden with fruit, Quàng Văn Nhất excitedly pointed to the clusters of lush green young berries: “In previous years, spraying pesticides was mainly done manually, which was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and harmful, posing many health risks. This year, we're spraying by plane, and the production efficiency has improved significantly. The pesticide is evenly dispersed in a mist, penetrating deep into each leaf crevice, resulting in much higher disease control effectiveness. In previous years, at this time, coffee plants often experienced biological fruit drop, but this year, the trees are thriving, bearing abundant fruit, and there's absolutely no sign of fruit drop. I'm sure this year's income will far exceed last year's.”

A spark of innovative thinking and the generation of "digital farmers"

Besides using drones to spray pesticides and care for the coffee and rice crops of their two families, since the beginning of the year, Mr. Nhat and Mr. Miu have also been providing pesticide spraying services for other villagers in the commune, covering an area of ​​about 100 hectares of various crops such as coffee, rice, and fruit trees.

Mr. Lo Van Hac, who was sent by Mr. Miu and Mr. Nhat to learn how to operate drones, excitedly said: "At first, seeing such a huge, modern drone, I was really worried. I didn't know if I, being from an ethnic minority group and only used to plowing and hoeing all year round, could handle it. But after attending the training and receiving thorough guidance, I'm very confident now. Just by pressing a button and creating a flight map on the drone, the machine takes off automatically and sprays pesticides evenly and precisely, down to each tree. Mastering this new technology makes me realize that farmers are much better off than before, and the efficiency is several times higher than manual labor."

Drones are being used by farmers in Nam Lau commune to assist in agricultural production.

Practical experience using drones for crop care has shown outstanding advantages: a 20-30% reduction in pesticide use compared to manual spraying, a 30-40% saving in water, and a reduction in labor costs of 600,000-700,000 VND/ha. Spraying time is 10-15 times faster than manual methods. Most importantly, the pesticide is evenly distributed, improving pest and disease control effectiveness. Sprayers have limited direct contact with chemicals, reducing the impact of pesticides, ensuring health, and this is suitable for farming conditions on hillsides and in areas with a shortage of local pesticide spraying labor.

Speaking with us, Mr. Cam Bun Loc, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Lau commune, affirmed that the model of Mr. Miu and Mr. Nhat is a shining example of the local development orientation. “The commune has identified promoting the application of science and technology in agricultural production as a key task. In the coming time, the government will actively promote and replicate this model. At the same time, we will create all conditions for people to access capital support policies, expand production in a modern and sustainable direction, and strengthen product consumption linkages through cooperatives and associations,” Mr. Loc shared.

Farmers in Nam Lau commune spray pesticides on coffee plants using drones.

The story of the two farmers from Pa O village is not just about the economic efficiency of farming on the steep hillsides; more importantly, it has ignited a new spark of thinking in the heart of Nam Lau. Watching the drone glide effortlessly over the green mountains, the people here have begun to believe in the power of technology, believing that highland farmers can completely master science to bring about change. This pioneering spirit is the first, solid building block for a generation of "digital farmers" in Son La – they have learned to confidently build wealth, transforming their local agricultural products into sustainable green values.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/khat-vong-bay-tren-doi-doc-CVj2aaJDg.html