Drones: Revolutionizing Crop Transportation to Elevate Smallholder Farm Income
In the remote district of Nankang in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province, drones have become an innovative tool for agriculture, particularly during the navel orange harvest season. Initiated as a collaboration between local farmers and SF Express, a courier service, these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have revolutionized the way agricultural products are delivered for e-commerce, consequently enhancing the incomes of local farmers in this mountainous terrain.
The project kicked off in November 2018 when fruit farmer Xu Chaodong was invited by SF Express to participate in a drone delivery trial. This initiative was part of a broader effort by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which started a pilot project in August 2017 aimed at leveraging drone delivery to boost local agricultural income.
The adoption of drones for delivery in Nankang addressed significant challenges faced by farmers, including the difficulty of accessing e-commerce platforms due to inadequate transportation, which affected their ability to sell produce at higher prices. In March 2018, SF Express was granted the first operational license for experimental drone deliveries in the district by the East China Regional Administration of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
The drone delivery project has since expanded to cover five townships within Nankang, benefiting approximately 26,000 rural households. By providing a more efficient and convenient method to market their products, such as eggs, farmers can now access broader markets beyond their immediate geographical location. This initiative not only supports local agriculture but also empowers farmers by providing them with additional income opportunities. The success of this project illustrates the potential of drone technology in transforming rural economies and highlights its role in giving “wings” to the development of local industries in remote areas.
https://english.news.cn/20230729/6908c77015b04d03bf5c32f8b64ca75d/c.html