Drones are transporting oranges from mountain orchards in China
China ranks first in the world in the number of agricultural drones. More than 300 thousand unmanned aerial vehicles in the country process over 30.6 million hectares of agricultural land every year.
Drones carry oranges from mountain orchards in China
According to Global Times, citing CCTV, the scope of tasks performed by agricultural drones in China is constantly expanding. While they were previously used mainly for spraying crops against pests, they are now also being utilized to monitor plant conditions, as well as to transport agricultural materials and harvested crops.
According to industry data, using drones for crop protection allows for a more than 20-fold increase in labor efficiency compared to manual labor. Furthermore, water consumption for treatment is reduced by more than 50 percent, and pesticide usage decreases by 20 to 40 percent.
Thus, drones have become one of the main technical means used in China to protect crops from pests and diseases.
Alongside drones, the use of robots and other "smart" machinery is also expanding in agriculture. They serve to automate various tasks, complete work in a timely manner, and increase yields.
Industry experts emphasize that low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles are gradually transforming from an experimental novelty into an everyday working tool. Specialized service organizations for farmers are also incorporating such equipment into their daily operations. This plays an important role in reducing costs and modernizing the agricultural sector.
Some tasks previously performed manually are also being handed over to drones. For example, they are being used to irrigate crops, transport oranges down from mountain slope orchards, and inspect fields. These devices are providing particular convenience in areas that are difficult for large equipment to reach.
Zhou Li, a professor at the Renmin University of China, explained this process through several factors. Rising labor costs in rural areas are driving the demand for machinery. At the same time, local manufacturers are improving drones and lowering their prices. As a result, such devices are becoming more accessible to small farmers and cooperatives as well.