CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — Rice farmers across Calabarzon may soon enhance their rice production as the Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with Agridom Solutions Corp., rolls out the use of drone technology for fertilizer application.
According to DA Calabarzon, the initiative piloted in Calauan, Laguna, is part of their efforts to introduce modern innovations in rice farming to improve productivity and efficiency.
“Ito ay bahagi ng pagpapakilala ng mga makabagong inobasyon sa pagpapalay tungo sa mas maunlad at mataas na produksyon. Sa pamamagitan ng drone, napapabilis at napapagaan ang trabaho ng magsasaka di lamang sa pagsusukat kundi pati na rin ang episyenteng pagtatanim, pag-iispray at pag-aabono sa palayan,” the DA Calabarzon stated.
Farmers can access the drone technology through the Agricultural Drone Assistance Voucher, which is being distributed by DA Calabarzon to qualified farmers in the region.
The DA explained that the assistance voucher can be used for drone-assisted application of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to enhance rice production. Qualified farmers may receive up to Php 2,000 per hectare in vouchers to support drone-assisted farming operations, including pre-flight planning, crop establishment, nutrient management, and pest and disease control.
Romhel Latayan, one of the farmer beneficiaries and president of the Brgy. Lamot Dos Irrigators Association, expressed his gratitude to the DA, highlighting how drone technology will speed up fertilizer application on their rice farms.
“Maraming salamat po sa Department of Agriculture para sa teknolohiyang ito. Malaking tulong po ito upang mapabilis at mapaganda ang sabog ng abono sa aming palayan at talagang mairerekomenda ko po ito sa mga magpapalay na may malalaking taniman,” he said.
The DA hopes that this initiative will encourage more farmers to adopt modern agricultural technologies, ultimately increasing rice production and strengthening food security in the region.
The drone-assisted fertilizer application is part of the Drones4Rice project under the DA’s National Rice Program, which aims to reduce production costs, decrease reliance on manual labor, and attract younger generations to farming.
To support the commercial application of drone technology in agriculture, the government has allocated Php300 million in funding. The DA said that the initiative is expected to accelerate the digital transformation of the rice industry, aligning with the agency’s Masagana Rice Industry Development Program. (FC/PIA4A)
