Mada deploys drones to spray pesticide on paddy plants

ALOR STAR: The Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) has turned to technology by deploying drones in place of humans to spray pesticide on paddy plants.
Its chairman, Datuk Othman Aziz said the "low volume spray" Agriculture Drone has a 10 litre tank, is fully automatic and equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS).
"Agriculture Drone can overcome labour shortage in the rice industry and control pest. It is accurate, fast and economical. It takes five minutes to spray one relung (0.288ha) or one day to spray 20ha.
"Humans need eight hours to cover two or three relong," he said after the launch of Agriculture Drone here, today.
MADACorp Agroservices has bought six drones at RM80,000 each from KBKL SmartTech Sdn Bhd which is also responsible for training the operators.
The drones are being used on 2,000ha of National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) under Mada before introduced to other areas gradually.
Othman said the use of drones would reduce the dependence on foreign workers and provide jobs with average income of RM2,000 per month to more young people.
"We need 500 drones for more than 100,000ha under Mada. Since each drone should have two operators, there is a need for 1,000 operators."
On claims by some parties that the use of drones would have negative impact on the environment, Othman said that this was untrue.
"The drones will fly at two to three metres and the pesticide sprayed will get onto the paddy leaves or stems," he added.
At the event, Othman handed certificates to six drone operators and also presented a mock cheque for RM490,793.75 to 26 Area Farmers Organisation (PPK). — Bernama