THE buzzword in most science and technology conferences in the country is Industry 4.0. It means businesses becoming faster, more efficient and smarter through the processing of data and its related infrastructures.
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones is integral to Industry 4.0. But the country, compared to its neighbors, lags in tapping drones for the agriculture sector.
My dissertation about drones in Philippine farms has given me several realizations about the status of technology adoption in agriculture. One is about the readiness to Industry 4.0. Most farmers are not financially capable of using it. Regulations on its use in farming require lots of burdensome paperwork.
Most farmers said buying drones might drag them deeper into debt. They need government support, since the cost for the maintenance of drones is crucial to its implementation in farms. Farmers also expressed anxiety over spare parts and repair if drones malfunction and crash in the rice fields.
The government is currently instituting voucher programs for farmers to avail of drone services. Some drone operators are also insuring their products, since maintenance is one of the major costs of its use.
Connecting with a financial institution also enables drone operators to become more competitive through access to funds for acquiring payloads and platforms catering to the needs of the agriculture industry.
However, farmers are concerned about the amount of paperwork they have to comply with to fly their drones over their plantation areas. Aside from certification of the drone operator and the platform, the government requires clearances for the use of fertilizers and pesticides to be hooked to the drone.
There are other documents which are filed separately at various government agencies. Thus, there is a need to streamline the operations and regulations in the use of drones in farming to encourage more farmers to avail of them.
It‘s not true that farmers can‘s adapt to using drones. In fact, they have become familiar with its various applications in farms. Most of them said they have watched it on video streaming platforms and were hopeful that they could acquire one in the future.
Indeed, technologies close to UAV, such as mobile phones and the internet, enable greater familiarity and positive perceptions about the use of drones in farming. Video streaming platforms can also be a springboard in the promotion of Industry 4.0 in our agricultural ecosystem.
Most of the farmers I interviewed said they are willing to use technology in farming, particularly drones for farm perimeter security and fertilizer and pesticides applications.
Farmers also mentioned that the use of drones in farming could offset problems associated with their aging population and fewer people engaging in agriculture. The use of drones and other newer technologies in agriculture could encourage younger generations to go into farming.
The farmers waned to learn more about drones in farming through training and workshops. The government can help through financial, legal, and educational support through memorandum circulars, policies and guidelines about the acquisition, utilization and end of life of drones.
A platform to enable Industry 4.0 in Philippine agriculture through drones is available. It is now a matter of having a streamlined infrastructure to support its use.
Joefreim “Jof” Armada Delicano is an Aeronautical Engineering faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at De La Salle University, Manila.