IRRI and DA-FPA ink MOA on farm drone training material development

LOS BANOS, Philippines (December 3-4, 2024) - IRRI and the Philippine Department of Agriculture's Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (DA-FPA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement to train FPA policymakers on the safe and effective use of agricultural drones.

This MOA aligns well with the Drones4Rice Program, which aims to establish standard use protocols for agricultural drones for rice production systems in the Philippines. "This training will help us in crafting the implementing guidelines in the monitoring of drone activities in agriculture.", stated DA-FPA Executive Director Julieta Lansangan.

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DA-FPA recently legislated Memorandum Circular No. 2024-025, which provides enhanced guidelines on using Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), also known as drones, for spraying pesticides through drones. For this training edition, the Fertilizer Regulations Division of DA-FPA is tasked with developing similar guidelines for operating drones for fertilizer application.

"It's an incredible honor for IRRI to be involved to have this collaboration with the Philippine government- to have this close involvement in policy, in decisions that affect the nation.", stated Drones4Rice Project Leader and IRRI Senior Scientist Engr. Stephen Klassen.

Drones help smallholder farmers rapidly measure their fields to accurately estimate the required amount of seed, fertilizer, or pesticide, lowering costs and improving farmers' rice quality and yield.

IRRI Senior Scientist for Agronomy Dr. Madonna Casimero shares that she is glad that DA is investing in disruptive technologies like drones, and she hopes that these innovations can be scaled for other crops too. "To make crop production more efficient, more economical in the long term, valuing the health of the people who are engaging in agriculture. We aim [to make] farming [a livelihood] not only to feed people but to ensure that people who are engaged in agriculture have a long and healthy life ahead.", Dr. Casimero explained.

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Agricultural drones are gaining traction in neighboring rice-producing countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, while their use and regulation are still in the early stages in the Philippines. IRRI will continue to partner with DA-FPA to develop new and updated guidelines and best practices for drone fertilizer and pesticide application.