What changes have taken place in the agricultural machinery fleet?
Ahead of the spring fieldwork season, Uzbekistan’s agricultural machinery fleet has undergone a noticeable upgrade. As part of a joint initiative between the Ministry of Agriculture and the World Bank, a large batch of Chinese-made unmanned aerial vehicles has arrived in the country.
In total, one hundred modern agricultural drones have been delivered. These devices are expected to help optimize farm management processes and introduce advanced technologies into the country’s agricultural sector.
How will the new agricultural drones be used?
The newly delivered equipment is clearly divided according to its functional purpose. Exactly half of the drones will be used exclusively for remote monitoring of agricultural land.
These devices will allow farmers to quickly assess the condition of crop fields, monitor plant development, and measure soil moisture levels across large areas.
The remaining fifty drones are designed with higher payload capacity and equipped with spraying systems. Their main tasks include applying fertilizers, performing targeted pest control, and carrying out other direct agricultural interventions in the fields.
How are specialists being trained to operate the drones?
The successful integration of such technologies into the national agro-industrial complex largely depends on the qualifications of local specialists. For this reason, an educational phase of the project began alongside the delivery of the equipment.
Currently, thirty specialists from the State Scientific and Design Institute “Uzgiprozem”, along with employees from its regional branches, are undergoing intensive practical training. The program focuses on learning drone piloting skills as well as the basics of technical maintenance.
In the future, the responsible authorities plan to expand the training program to increase the number of certified drone operators to one hundred.
Why are agricultural drones considered more efficient?
Using agricultural drones for precision spraying significantly improves the efficiency of field treatment. According to specialists, the consumption of chemicals and water can be reduced by 30–50% compared to traditional tractor-mounted sprayers.
In regions with dry climates, this not only saves valuable resources but also helps prevent excessive chemical contamination of the soil. Drones can treat specific infected areas with extreme accuracy, reaching precision down to just a few centimeters.