GUIMARAS – The municipality of Jordan in this island province received a multi-rotor drone from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to help farmers improve productivity on their farmlands.
The drone project was part of the DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program.
With Guimaras being a haven of agricultural products, this agricultural drone technology will optimize the application of pesticides and fertilizers in crop production, particularly for mangoes.
Ma. Alicia Soledad Salazar, assistant provincial director of DOST-Guimaras Provincial Science and Technology Office, led the ceremonial turnover of the agricultural drone together with Mayor Cresente Chavez Jr., project leader Renante Baleña, and Municipal Agriculture Officer Marites Gallego.
“We hope to achieve higher levels of agricultural productivity through technological upgrading and innovation and likewise address the socio-economic needs of the province,” Salazar said.
The technical personnel from Kubota Philippines Inc., meanwhile, conducted a product presentation and actual fly testing of the AGRAS T20 -DJI agricultural drone.
A four-day basic training and operation of the agricultural drone was conducted on April 16 to 19 at Guimaras State University – Mosqueda Campus for the assigned pilots and project team.
The project also tapped the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Guimaras.
CEST program is one of the strategies of DOST to foster economic development through science and technology for people in conflict-affected areas, marginalized sectors, remote regions, indigenous groups, and women’s organizations.
Its S&T interventions focused on health and nutrition, water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, economic enterprise and development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. (PIA Iloilo)/PN
