Now, drones poised to help farmers reap a rich harvest
They can plant seeds, spray pesticides and fertilisers and assess crop health, experts say
Imagine a drone planting seeds, spraying pesticides and fertilisers, pollinating flowers and assessing crop health. This is the future of farming that can help fill the gap in boosting food security, experts said recently.
These technologies were discussed and displayed at the first ‘Drones Synergies’ in Dubai, a global conference and capacity building workshop on drone technology with artificial intelligence and internet of things (IoT).
The event was organised by the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Zayed University, and the Falcon Eye Drones.
Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, ICBA director-general, said these technologies are already being applied in countries that use massive hectares of land for farming, like Canada and Brazil, but they can also be used in the UAE in the future.
“Now, with the UAE’s new food security strategy, agriculture ■ is going to become more commercial,” Dr Elouafi told Gulf News. Using these drones will help farmers carry out more cost-effective operations. They can be most useful in detecting overuse of water, for example, and providing other services, Dr Elouafi said.
Successful synergies
To boost food security, increased productivity is a must. To do this, farmers have to rely on more accurate and timely information that can be provided by drones, said Dr Ali Al Battay, senior scientist — Remote Sensing and Drones Technology at ICBA.
Proving the concept, Dr Al Battay’s team conducted two pilot testings of date palm counting, using drones in Abu Dhabi in May and in Ras Al Khaimah in June. “There is huge potential for synergies between drones, AI and IoT; all of these are very promising in a future where farmers can have timely, reliable, affordable and actionable data to take action when needed,” Dr Al Battay said.
“Drones can measure plant health, make informed decision with plant count, assess damage and mitigate losses after an extreme weather event or the spread of a certain disease,” he added.