Chinese agricultural drones fly over farmland in Thailand

In recent years, especially after the outbreak of the COVID-19, intelligent agricultural machinery represented by plant protection UAVs has played a great role in agricultural production. Nowadays, agricultural plant protection drones made in China are flying into more countries, helping local farmers produce more efficiently, conveniently, and safely.

At around 4 pm local time, the sun was no longer scorching, and Thai farmer Nikong was standing on a ridge manipulating an agricultural plant protection drone. Accompanied by a rapid “buzzing” sound, drones shuttle over the farmland, spraying white mist like pesticides from below, forming a mist curtain that is accurately sprayed on the crops.

Nikong is 43 years old this year, and his hometown is in Leyi Province, northeastern Thailand. Nikon and his wife originally worked at a duty-free shop in Bangkok, but due to the severe impact of the epidemic and the economic downturn in Thailand, the Nikon family’s income plummeted. At the beginning of 2020, they resigned from their job in Bangkok and returned home to work in the countryside. Before returning home, Nikon sold his property in Bangkok and purchased a Dajiang Agricultural Plant Protection Drone. He decided to leverage his original expertise in aerial photography using drones and develop a new professional identity – becoming an agricultural plant protection drone “pilot”.

Nikong introduced that using drones mainly involves spraying pesticides and fertilizers on crops. Nowadays, young people are unwilling to stay in rural areas to farm, and there is a shortage of labor in the village. Using drones can help farmers reduce workload and improve work efficiency. Artificial spraying of pesticides on rice fields does not exceed 10 liters (about 2.4 acres) per day. Now, I can spray 40 to 50 liters of land per day using drones, and even more, “he said.

Nikong and more than 20 other drone “pilots” received orders through social media and conducted drone spraying operations in Liyi Prefecture and surrounding areas. He said that Li Yi Prefecture mainly grows rice, which is a double season and three season rice planting area. There is almost no idle time, and he works about 6 hours a day, about 25 days a month. “Not only does he earn more than when he worked at a duty-free shop in Bangkok, but he also has more time to spend with his family.

Allen has 30 durian gardens. He said that during the epidemic, Lao workers in durian orchards were unable to return to work in the orchards, and he used drones to spray operations with a try and see attitude. At first, I wasn’t sure about the spraying effect of drones, but I couldn’t find any workers and had to give it a try. After using drones, I found that they not only efficiently killed pests, but also protected me from pesticide poisoning

Thailand is a traditional agricultural country, and agriculture plays a crucial role in Thailand’s economic development. In recent years, due to the adjustment of agricultural population structure, intensified aging, and increased labor costs, Thailand’s demand for modern agricultural machinery has rapidly increased. The addition of Chinese agricultural drones has provided an “acceleration” for the development of modern agriculture in Thailand.

Chen Tao, Global Sales Director of Dajiang Agriculture, said that since its entry into the Thai market in 2016, Dajiang Agriculture’s plant protection drones have continuously optimized their functional efficiency for local core operation scenarios such as rice and fruit trees based on user demand. User acceptance of the products has been increasing, and sales in Thailand have continued to double since 2019. Based on this year’s shipment volume, Thailand has become the largest overseas single market for agricultural and plant protection drones in Xinjiang