DA bets on drones, AI to curb crop threats

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is banking on smart technology, particularly drones and artificial intelligence, to prevent crop threats and stop disease outbreaks.

“The technology combines real-time environmental data gathered by drones with historical weather patterns and machine-learning models to predict pest infestations and other crop threats, potentially giving farmers and government agencies an early warning before outbreaks spread,” the DA said in a statement on Wednesday.

READ: Drones in rice farming: Big gains, big risks

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E-SupportLink introduced the system, which farms in Japan already use to support timely assessments and prevent disease outbreaks through AI-based mapping and early detection.

ESL has started pilot testing its AI-powered aerial imaging technology on three banana farms in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro, with ground verification ongoing to validate results.

According to ESL, the pilot testing in Davao has also drawn interest from private banana producers seeking to utilize aerial data for production planning and disease monitoring.

“The system uses drones, aerial photography, and AI analysis to monitor crop growth, count plants, forecast production, optimize farm inputs, and detect early signs of disease,” it added.

Agriculture Undersecretary Cheryl Natividad-Caballero said the technology could shift farm management from a reactive approach to a more preventive one.

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“The value of this system is that it is not just about flying drones. It comes with predictive analysis and forecasting. We can identify where problems may start before they become bigger issues,” Caballero said, adding this initiative could reduce the cost of curbing disease outbreaks.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the technology’s broader impact hinges on its affordability and accessibility to farmers.

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“The technology is promising, but we need to make sure it becomes affordable and accessible not only to large companies but, more importantly, to small farmers,” Tiu Laurel said.

The DA is also eyeing the technology for sugarcane and coconut, which face pest infestations and production challenges.

“We want to see how this can help us address urgent concerns in sugar and coconut. If we can detect problems earlier, we can make better decisions and protect farmers’ income,” he added.

Under the proposed partnership, ESL will help train drone operators, establish aerial imaging systems, and provide AI-based productivity assessments.

For its part, the agency is exploring possible government support, including training assistance, through the Agricultural Training Institute and potential funding mechanisms. /pai