Vietnam Farmers Use XAG Drones to Cut Rice Production Costs

Transforming Rice Farming in Vietnam with Advanced Drone Technology

Key Takeaways

• Vietnam’s rice farmers, including Lê from the Mekong Delta, face labor shortages and rising production costs.
• The adoption of agricultural drones is reshaping traditional farming practices by increasing efficiency and precision.
• Lê Thành Nguyên, a seasoned farmer, reports significant improvements in yield and reduced costs since implementing drone technology.
• Drone technology by companies such as XAG is becoming increasingly popular among small-scale farmers, helping them adapt to changing agricultural challenges.

In the bustling Mekong River Delta, the arrival of the busy rice season brings both opportunity and challenges for farmers. Lê Thành Nguyên, a 62-year-old rice farmer, found himself grappling with a recurring issue: the scarcity of agricultural labor. Each morning, he would expect farmhands to arrive and sow seeds, but late arrivals often meant that time-sensitive tasks went undone, resulting in crop damage and reduced yields.

“Even when workers did come on time, I noticed that manual methods were imprecise, leading to an uneven plant density,” Lê explained. His concerns reflect a broader uncertainty faced by many in the Vietnamese rice farming sector, where profitability is steadily declining. As the realities of urbanization set in, a growing number of farmers like Lê are seeking innovative solutions to keep their farms profitable.

The XAG P100 agricultural drone spread fertilizers to the rice paddy in Vietnam

Embracing Innovation

Vietnam stands as the second-largest rice exporter globally, with a production heavily reliant on small-scale farmers. Yet they are feeling the pinch from escalating fertilizer costs and labor shortages, leading many to reduce their farming scale. To counter these challenges, adopting drone technology is becoming increasingly attractive.

The XAG agricultural drones are gaining traction among farmers, offering a highly efficient alternative for a range of tasks, including pesticide spraying and seed sowing, all operated conveniently via mobile phones. Lê notes that these drones not only lower labor costs but also ensure better yields by optimizing the distribution of seeds and fertilizers.

Lê is talking about the difficulties he used to meet during farming seasons.

The Advantages of Drone Technology

“Since integrating drone technology into my farming methods, I have seen remarkable changes,” Lê shared. His 7-hectare rice farm now benefits from precise application of fertilizers and pesticides, significantly enhancing productivity and profitability. According to Lê, the process has transformed; he can now cover more ground in less time while achieving superior results.

Drones, such as the XAG P100, offer the ability to fertilize one ton of crops in just an hour, a daunting contrast to the manual labor that previously required multiple workers and extensive hours to achieve similar results. The uniform distribution of nutrients has also dramatically improved crop health, promising higher yields and diminished waste.

Workers used to carry the backpack sprayer to spray pesticide

Economic Benefits and Future Outlook

The economic benefits of drone usage extend beyond just labor savings. Lê indicates that using a drone requires significantly fewer seeds than traditional methods—approximately 120 kilograms per hectare compared to 150-200 kilograms when sowed by hand. This optimized use of resources not only minimizes waste but also enhances overall yield potential. “The reduction in costs, combined with the efficiency improvements, make drones an essential tool for the modern farmer,” Lê concluded.

The trend of adopting drone technology in Vietnamese agriculture is poised for further growth. As challenges in labor availability and rising costs continue to mount, farmers like Lê are leading the charge, demonstrating that with innovation and the right tools, a brighter future for rice farming in Vietnam is possible.

Photo credit: VietNam Smart Agriculture Technology Joint Stock Company