China’s drone-farming boom eyes emerging markets as agriculture automation spreads
Ageing rural populations are driving up demand for intelligent aerial devices, and the ‘irresistible trend” is expected to sweep through Southeast Asia
To offset an ageing agricultural workforce and boost sustainable yields, China is aggressively accelerating the adoption of farm drones – a trend that analysts say could spread to more emerging markets despite trade restrictions imposed by the United States.
Industry leader DJI said its global sales of agricultural drones had exceeded 700,000 units across China and more than 100 other countries and regions by the end of last month – more than a fivefold increase in just five years.
Use of the smart devices has expanded from spraying, seeding and fertilising to patrolling fields and transporting materials in steep or flooded terrain. These aircraft have moved a total of 17 million tonnes of farm supplies, according to a DJI report released at the weekend.
The rapid roll-out across China’s farmlands, much of which is in the hands of an ageing farming population, comes as policymakers push for greater agricultural efficiency to ensure food self-sufficiency amid increasingly volatile global commodity markets.