DA Region 2 pushes drone direct seeding

THE Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 2 (Cagayan Valley) is into scaling up the application of the modified planting calendar, and precision and digital farming using drones.

With this, DA Regional Office 2 Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino said her office conducted on December 7 a method demo on rice direct seeding using an unmanned aerial vehicle or drone in Mallig, Isabela.

«We are currently undertaking research in a 20-hectare demonstration [area] in Mallig,» she said, adding that aside from showcasing direct seeding using a drone, the activity also featured precision/mechanical and manual seeding techniques.

Aquino said the initiative, a collaborative effort of the DA Regional Field Office 2 through its Field Operations, Research, Integrated Laboratory and Regional Agricultural Engineering Divisions; Regional Crop Protection Center; Cagayan Valley Research Center; Southern Cagayan Research Center; Rice and Farm, and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation Programs; and the National Irrigation Administration in Region 2.

She said this project is also strongly supported by the municipal local government of Mallig and the provincial government of Isabela.

Titled «Scaling-up of Modified Planting Calendar cum Precision Crop Establishment Technologies and Nutrient Management in Irrigated Area of Isabela Province,» Aquino said the research's main objective is «to improve farm productivity and profitability of farmers using digital farming.»

She also explained that a modified cropping calendar is an adjusted time of planting from that of the existing one.

«Our most important consideration here is to avoid rainy months and other adverse weather conditions during critical stages of plants,» Aquino said.

She said the research project also aims to determine the profitability and acceptability of a modified planting calendar in the area.

«If this is proven successful, it may also be introduced and adopted in other areas of the Cagayan Valley region,» Aquino said.

According to Rodel Carlos, DA-CVRC science research specialist, the demonstration was attended by farmers and stakeholders in Mallig.

Carlos said members of the Casili Dam Farmers Irrigators