To trim costs and reap higher benefits, Vietnamese farmers are increasing the use of XAG P100 Agricultural Drone in the cultivation of high-value crops such as banana and durian.
With the advantage of fully autonomous and precise operation, XAG drones have become more widely used on farm. They can help fruit growers address labor shortage and make for the reduction on agricultural input.
As a leading agri-tech company, XAG sees the potential of unmanned drones in Vietnam’s fruit industry amid the shrinking agricultural workforce. Tropical fruit exports play an important part in Vietnam’s economy. In the 4th quarter of 2022, durian exports surged to US$421 million, up 137% from the same period last year. Banana exports also experienced strong growth of 34.5%, reaching US$311 million last year.
However, banana and durian are usually planted in hot and humid climate, which are prone to pests and diseases. Multiple spraying and fertilization are required throughout the growth cycle, and the investment can be heavy in terms of labor and fertilizer. Despite the relatively good profit margin of fruit crops, farmers in Vietnam are faced with increasing pressures.
Currently, most fruit farms still rely on manual labor to manage the watering, fertilising and pest control. Pesticide spraying is also a necessity to prevent pests and diseases, including aphids, mites, powdery mildew, and black rot.
Farms troubled by labor shortage can now find the solution by introducing the XAG P100 Agricultural Drone.
After the drone pilot set parameters and planned flight route on App, the XAG P100 followed the preset path autonomously to spray. The drone alone is able to spray 20-30 hectares of banana field within a day, which was equivalent to the efficiency of 20 workers toiling simultaneously. Imagine the savings that can be made in terms of labor costs while at the same time boost efficiency.
A farm in Vietnam which is currently using XAG P100 drone reported that the use of drone also helped to conserve the use of water by 80%, pesticide (70%) and fertilizer (60%). In addition, workers’ health are also protected as there is no direct contact with pesticide.
For durian farms where good agricultural practices are essential to ensure a good harvest, strict limitations on the timing and amount of pesticides are needed to ensure high quality products for exports. Currently, a large number of workers are hired to maintain a uniform farming process. XAG P100 Agricultural Drone is the solution as it now takes only 2 hours for example, as compared to workers who need 8 hours to spray the farm. The farm can ultimately cut the number of workers required and save costs.
Meanwhile, the drone also offers better precision in spraying and record operational data throughout its flight route.
The use of agricultural drone technology is expected to help farmers to meet high international export requirements. The Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association estimated the country’s fruit export value to reach US$4 billion in 2023, a 20% jump from the previous year, with half of it contributed by dragon fruit, banana and durian.
