Eliminate human resource difficulties, a stepping stone to digitalization
In the past 5 years, the image of agricultural drones taking care of rice fields in the Mekong Delta has become familiar. Not only used for fertilizing, drones also spray pesticides and sow seeds - an effective solution in the context of increasingly scarce rural labor, while giving farmers quick access to modern agriculture.
More than 3 years ago, Mr. Bui Tan Hau (My Dong commune, Thap Muoi district, Dong Thap province) invested more than 500 million VND to buy a drone to serve more than 10 hectares of rice in his family. Seeing the obvious results, he started spraying rice for surrounding residents, including old farmer Nguyen Minh Tuan (Hamlet 4, My Dong Commune). "I hired drones to spray pesticides for 4.5 hectares of rice, at a reasonable cost, to be light, compact, and take advantage of the weather," Mr. Tuan shared.
Mr. Le Van Tam - Director of An Thanh Agricultural Cooperative (An Phong Commune, Thanh Binh District) - said that most cooperative members use drones or rent services. Since the drone was available, farmers have no longer struggled to find workers, he said.
According to Mr. Le Quoc Trung, Director of Dong Thap Digital Agricultural Cooperative, the number of young agricultural workers has decreased sharply since 2018 due to heavy work and toxicity. Drone helps solve the human problem, especially in disease management. This is also a stepping stone to digitize the production process, towards standardizing rice quality according to standards, said Mr. Trung. He added that this device is attracting young people with technology knowledge, providing professional services, reducing the burden on people.
Currently, Dong Thap has nearly 300 agricultural drones in operation, not to mention border areas. In Kien Giang, the province with the highest rice output in the country, this figure is nearly 700.
Risk warning
Although effective, the rapid development of agricultural drones also has many potential risks. The incident that occurred at the end of November 2024 in Hon Dat district (Kien Giang) was a warning bell: A man in My Hiep Son commune was hit by a drone while traveling on the road, the fan blades caused serious injuries to the head and neck. Although he was given emergency care at An Giang General Hospital, the victim died on November 21, 2024.
Previously, also in Hon Dat, there was a drug poisoning incident caused by drones spraying chemicals to treat stink bugs on rice, reflecting some hidden corners during the operation of this device.
Some agricultural drone operators in the Mekong Delta admitted that turning off radar for manual control and lacking support when landing is a common mistake, posing a potential danger during operation. The machine can also fall off on its own due to aging batteries. Besides professional " pilots", there are still many drivers who lack skills, technical foundation or agricultural knowledge.
Master Nguyen Phuoc Tuyen - former Director of the Agricultural Extension Center of Dong Thap province - informed that each drone has 16 different spraying methods adapted to each disease target, purpose of use... Therefore, if even with drugs, spraying at the right time, without technique, it is still not possible to maximize the effectiveness of the drug.
Waiting for fireworks for agricultural drones
According to experts, despite being well-trained and mastering the "four correct" principle, service drone drivers still need to advise farmers with all their heart, not only for profit but also to focus on environmental impact. Therefore, the role of a conductor in drone operation is very important, helping farmers understand that the use of drones is not simple and does not always achieve absolute efficiency.
Mr. Tuyen said that it is time to restore order in agricultural drone management with a policy that is both drastic and promoting. Vocational training on drones and expanding training in the mechanical industry are directions in line with current market demand.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Tai, lecturer of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, An Giang Vocational College, said that the Mekong Delta needs to take the lead in the trend of agricultural drones by building industry codes, including regular training with a clear curriculum, especially focusing on technical operations, maintenance and ensuring flight safety.
Mr. Le Viet Phuong, Vice Principal of An Giang Vocational College - said that the school is promoting the opening of an elementary training program to grant certificates to agricultural drone operators, equipping them with knowledge, skills and professional ethics, ensuring safety for drivers, the community and the environment. "We are ready to deploy training when licensed, and will coordinate with businesses to update modern equipment technology," said Mr. Phuong.
However, the current difficulty is waiting for consensus to apply for an industry code. If all goes well, the General Department of Vocational Education will issue a training program framework, with a study period of 3 to 6 months depending on the content. Mr. Phuong emphasized: "agricultural drones are special equipment, which need to be managed, controlled and properly trained soon".
