IRRI and XAG promote digital agriculture and precision farming in the Philippines
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and smart agriculture technology company XAG are set to accelerate agricultural automation and innovation in the Philippines through digital agriculture and precision farming using drone technology.
XAG, through its Philippine partner Agridom, has donated agricultural drones to IRRI to support its mission of advancing precision agriculture and sustainable farming practices. Agridom pioneered the introduction of XAG agricultural drones in the Philippines, bringing technology to local farmers and institutions.
“Drones have been increasingly used for high throughput phenotyping, crop monitoring, improving agricultural productivity, and supporting precision farming. By providing efficient tools for crop monitoring, precision input application, and data-driven decision-making, drones provide the potential to significantly reduce costs and increase yields, optimising resource use and minimising environmental impact,” IRRI Senior Scientist Steve Klassen explained.
Limited drone adoption
Drones are particularly valuable to smallholder farmers in the country. They must improve their productivity and reduce production costs in order to be competitive. However, drone adoption in the Philippines is hindered by limited access to technology, lack of standard protocols, financial resources, and regulatory constraints. “To overcome these challenges, we need a comprehensive approach that involves targeted training, guidelines for best practices, financial incentives, and supportive government policies.”, Klassen said.
Partners
Klassen’s team is also working with the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) – National Program, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and their allied bureaus on the Drones4Rice Project, which aims to streamline and standardise drone protocols for applying seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides in the Philippines. The donated drones will support the ongoing Drones4Rice project and other IRRI global initiatives on sustainable farming and digital accelerators.
“IRRI is a key research and technology partner in the Philippines, and through this effort, we hope to contribute to the country’s agricultural competitiveness through drone-based technologies.” shared XAG Head of International Business Wei Tong. “XAG’s agricultural drones can be applied to various precision farming scenarios, specifically but not limited to direct seeding, pesticide spraying, fertilizer operation, and remote sensing. We hope to expand our engagements abroad to strengthen global food security and tackle climate change, as rice is the primary staple food that feeds over half of the world’s population.”, Tong shared.
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