ILOILO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas has piloted free agricultural drone services in Barangay Inagdangan Centro, Zarraga, Iloilo.
Over four hectares of rice fields in the vegetative stage were sprayed with bio-fertilizers using DA’s agricultural drone services.
The Zarraga farmers are the first beneficiaries in Western Visayas to take advantage of the service.
According to Ian Calibara of the DA-WV Regional Rice Program, this intervention is part of the Digitalization and Value Chain Development initiative under the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program, which aims to provide rice farmers with subsidized access to drone services.
Calibara added that drone mechanization aims to speed up farm activities and ensure the effective and efficient application of bio-fertilizers and soil ameliorants in rice nutrient management.
The DA is also set to implement agricultural drone services in Pototan and Dingle, Iloilo, through a voucher system.
Beneficiaries will receive vouchers worth ₱2,000 per hectare for full drone-assisted farming operations, including pre-flight planning, crop establishment, nutrient management, and pest and disease control. (AAL/AGP/ PIA 6)
