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Drones, which are becoming popular in Bangladesh, have huge potential in local agriculture and can be used to reduce costs as well as increase efficiency, say experts.
They say the world population will reach nine billion by 2050 and better agriculture technologies are needed to feed this massive population. Considering that, drones can be very effective in boosting food production in many ways.
Former vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University Dr MA Sattar Mandal told The Business Post using drones in the field of agriculture has many different advantages, such as spraying liquid fertilisers aerially.
He said drones can calibrate liquid fertilisers for different crops through Artificial Intelligence and remote sensing. “Different crops need liquid fertilisers in different growth stages, and drones can come in handy here.”
According to the academic, drones can precisely carry out these tasks in real time with or without the help of an operator. “They can provide reports on crop health and soil condition as well as predict harvests in compliance with weather data.”
Explaining further, Dr Sattar said drones are also used to plant seeds as well as spray the right amount of water, fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides on crops.
“They can spray these by detecting infected or weak plants without affecting the healthy ones. This means farmers can do various tasks by using drones without the help of manual labour.”
Moreover, drones can be used in climate-affected regions, especially to fight droughts, he said, adding, “Drones can measure the proper level of water in the field and irrigate crops without wasting water, unlike traditional methods.”
The agricultural economist said, “In countries like Japan, where labour shortage is a massive problem, drones can estimate final yields with precision using advanced algorithms and pinpoint where fruits and vegetables will grow during the flowering stage. Then automated devices can be used to harvest the yields without any wastage.”
He observed that Bangladesh needs enormous modernisation in agriculture to get these benefits of drones. He also said drones can play an important role in addressing the current issues in the food sector.
“But it is very difficult to import agriculture drones in Bangladesh due to the strict official rules. Most drones used in agriculture exceed the permitted consumer drone weight,” Dr Sattar noted.
Many large farms want to use drones but are still relying on traditional methods due to these limitations, he added.
Khandakar Mohammad Rashed Iftekher, additional deputy director at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and in-charge of the DAE control room, told The Business Post, “We have proposed using drones in an upcoming project.”
“We hope the project will get approval. Its implementation will begin within a year,” he added.
Drone rules
The Bangladesh government has allowed drones for personal or institutional use since 2014, but there are strict rules.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has authorised the use of drone cameras or drones through the Drone Registration and Flight Policy 2020. Drones are divided into four categories based on their use:
Category A: Used for recreational purposes only
Category B: Used by public or private organisations or individuals for non-commercial purposes, such as education and research
Category C: Commercial and professional use, such as still photography, film production, and transportation of goods
Category D: State or military use
The 2020 policy also specified zones where drones can be flown and the registration process for drone pilots. Drones weighing less than 7kg and flying at a height of less than 50 feet do not need official permission if they are flown outside three kilometres of airports and key point installations (KPIs).
Besides, drones weighing less than 7kg and flying at a height of less than 100 feet do not need official permission if they fly outside three kilometres and a half of airports and KPIs.
In all other cases, A, B, and C category drones need CAAB permission. The defence ministry approval is required to import drones weighing more than 7kg.
Bangladesh Armed Forces announced at the end of July this year to buy Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones for military use, BBC reported. Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies says drones can be very useful in modernising the country’s military.
Drone imports
The imports of D category drones increased recently due to the extensive demand for enterprise drones in the field of state security and surveillance.
Drone importers say the existing law is very vague and needs amendment to keep up with the progress in the modern world.
Next Gear, the largest importer of enterprise drones, started its business in 2020 after securing a dealership from China’s Shenzhen DJI Sciences and Technologies. It has supplied drones to the military, Rapid Action Battalion, police, and other state agencies.
Mahmud Riyaz, director of Next Gear, told The Business Post it is a new technology in Bangladesh and the demand for both enterprise and consumer drones is skyrocketing.
“Our drones are mostly used to ensure public safety and improve aerial surveys. They are also used in urban planning, construction, and natural resource management.”
