The Board Agribusiness Dominican Republic (JAD) is committed to the use of technology of drones for agricultural production in the Dominican Republic.
Osmar Benítez, president of the JAD, showed the operation and benefits of this technology in the presentation of the T50 drone, which is marketed in the country by the company SKYAGRO, SRL, before agricultural leaders in a banana farm located in the La Canela municipal district of Santiago.
He highlighted that the tool is designed to facilitate tasks such as monitoring of cropsthe precise application of inputs and the collection of data in real time, thus contributing to greater productivity and sustainability in the agricultural sector. He indicated that these services are complemented with focused applications, which allow the optimization of input supply processes.
He highlighted that, by applying only the necessary amount in specific areas of the planted area, the impact is minimized. environmental and the use of products is made more efficient agrochemicalswhich translates into a reduction in costs for the producer.
Benítez, former minister of Agriculturehighlighted that the agricultural sector is immersed in a great transformation.
He stated that it is not possible to compete or face the challenges that the agriculture using the methods and cultural practices that were used in the country, for which he urged producers to explore the technology of drones in the crops.
A drone reduces costs
The president of the JAD said that he uses the technology of drones on his property since 2016.
He explained that the work that five men did to fumigate around 1,500 pieces of land planted with bananas in its property Manually, with the equipment it is reduced from 15 days to just one and a half days.
“When you analyze the cost benefit of the application of the product, the expense is sixty percent cheaper than manual application,” he explained.
He said that the investment made with the acquisition of a drone has a return of three years.
Benítez pointed out that the tool also helps to reduce the hand of construction site Haitian, “which is a task that the Dominican Republic has pending.
He added: “The President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, what he wants is for this type of technology to eliminate the hand of construction site unskilled and improve profitability of the sector”.
Purchasing facilities
To facilitate the purchase of drones agricultural, the president ordered the exemption in the payment of taxes to bring to the country those manufactured in China.
In addition, it allocated three billion pesos through the Bank of Development and Exports (Bandex) to finance the mechanization of agricultural production and reduce dependence on hand of construction site not qualified.
The economic facility implies a fixed rate of 9.5% and a financing term of up to seven years.
Daniel Delgado, regional director of Bandex, reported that in recent weeks they have awarded four loans for the acquisition of that technology.
The device can be applied in crops of ricecorn, beans, soybeans and other agricultural fruits. Also for planting trees and the precise application of inputs such as pesticides used in the agriculture.
The objective of the activity, promoted by Osmar Benítez, was to demonstrate the operation of the T50 drone, which incorporates the latest technology in agricultural applications.
The meeting is part of the work plan of the Agribusiness Information and Innovation Center (CIIAGRO) of the JAD and represents an opportunity to learn about the advantages and potential of this technological tool in the country’s agricultural practices.
The day included the participation of leaders from the agricultural sector, banana producers and other agricultural sectors, who were able to witness the operation and benefits of this technology.
