Airplanes for farming

Since joining the Minh Ha Agricultural Service Cooperative, Mr. Huynh Huu Luc, residing in Lung Ba hamlet, Khanh Binh Dong commune, Tran Van Thoi district, has accessed many sources of support through the partnership between the cooperative and Loc Troi Group.

Accordingly, in addition to receiving support in farming methods, fertilizers, seeds, and guaranteed product purchase, cooperative members also have access to modern tools and techniques for use in their own fields. Most recently, this includes the use of drones (aircraft) for spraying pesticides.

After identifying the signs and condition of the crops, farmers select the appropriate pesticide and mix it in the correct dosage. The rest is handled by controlling the automated spraying drone.

Mr. Luc's family's 5-hectare rice field showed signs of rice blast disease. After contacting the company, staff came to inspect the field, selected the appropriate pesticide, and sprayed it as soon as possible, preventing the spread of the disease. Comparing it to manual methods and preparing everything himself when the rice showed signs of pest and disease damage, Mr. Luc commented: “Before, with an area of ​​5 hectares, when the rice was infected, it took 7-8 days of concentrated labor to spray. Now, only one person with a drone is needed, and it's done in about 2 hours. My rice field is large, and every extra day of delay increases the risk. Therefore, although the service fee is lower, I feel more secure and avoid losses later.”

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Den, from Lung Ba hamlet, Khanh Binh Dong commune, shared: "Instead of traditional spraying methods that take a lot of time, spraying pesticides by airplane ensures the health of the people directly involved in spraying, and also saves effort and costs while being effective quickly."

During flight, the user can monitor the spray direction and observe a wide area through the controller's screen, even from a distance.

With nearly three years of experience operating drones, Mr. Le Phong Do, from the Ca Mau Drone Team of Green Agricultural Management Joint Stock Company, Loc Troi Group, shared: “On average, each drone operation lasts 7 minutes, spraying a 10-liter tank of pesticides per 0.5 hectares. The service cost per hectare ranges from 150,000 to 200,000 VND.”

Driven by a desire for increasingly efficient production, many farmers are also exploring new technologies, initially for their families, and later boldly investing in aircraft to develop services based on a fee-based model.

Depending on the age of the plants, appropriate spraying methods should be used to ensure that their future growth is not affected.

In Khanh Loc commune, Tran Van Thoi district, Mr. Tran Ut Nam was one of the first people to bring an airplane to fly over his fields. He was known by the locals as "Mr. Nam the airplane pilot".

Previously, Mr. Nam hired drones to spray pesticides on his rice fields and orchards. In October 2022, he invested in purchasing a drone worth over 440 million VND. Mr. Nam shared: “Farmers responded very positively because it saves time and effort, and is beneficial for their health. Initially, I bought it for home use, but later I went to spray for anyone who needed it, earning extra income and recouping my investment. To become proficient and efficient, I received thorough training in flying techniques when I bought the drone, and then I was issued a certificate to provide the service.”

From being unfamiliar to becoming familiar, drones for spraying pesticides are now a powerful tool to support crop cultivation. This is seen as a new economic approach, keeping pace with modern farming trends.

To date, Mr. Nam has provided spraying services to over 7,000 hectares, earning nearly 200 million VND after deducting expenses. His joy is doubled as his professional service has become widely known. During the planting season, his drones operate at full capacity, helping him earn extra income alongside his farming activities.

Ngo Nhi

Source link: https://www.baocamau.com.vn/nong-lam/may-bay-lam-nong-80138.html