The Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries has taken steps to spray pesticides in paddy cultivation in 15 districts using drone technology this yala season.
Plans have been made to spray pesticides using drone technology for paddy cultivation in the districts of Hambantota, Monaragala, Ampara, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Mannar, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Nuravaeliya, Matale, Trincomalee and Gampaha districts in this yala cropping season.
Mr. Kavinda Dissanayake, Chairman of the Agri- Sector skills Council, said that the council has arranged to provide one drone each to the Agrarian Public Service Centers in each of these districts.
Yesterday (19) drones were used to spray pesticides on paddy fields to be commenced yesterday at the Aluthwewa area in Angunakolapelassa. The Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera participated in observing these activities.
When looking at the list of expenses incurred by the farmers in paddy cultivation, it is found that the highest amount they paid to labor cost applied to the pesticides in their paddy fields. Most of that money is spent on spraying pesticides several times. It is estimated that the cost of human labor for spraying pesticides at one time is around Rs. 7500 per hectare.
But by using drone technology, it costs about Rs. 978 per acre. Also, the time taken to spray pesticides per acre is about an hour. This provides many advantages such as efficiency, cost reduction and health protection for the farmer due to not inhaling pesticides.
The Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industry Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera expressed his views while participting in this event.
This year, we are spraying pesticides for paddy cultivation by drones in 15 districts. Also, we will introduce this program to all 25 districts in the next Maha season. This system is very beneficial for the farmers. We provide the necessary drones to Agrarian Service Centers.
Also, these activities are carried out by drone pilots who are well trained in drone technology.
The aim of the government is to use modern technology for paddy cultivation as well as for other crops. Farmers in Hambantota district have been able to harvest 12,000 kg of paddy per hectare. It is a recorded harvest. But in some parts of our country, farmers cannot get even 1000 kg of paddy harvest per hectare.
In the year 2023, no rice was imported except Basmati rice required for the tourism industry. Throughout the year 2023, the people of our country ate the rice produced by our farmers. There is no need to import rice even in 2024 also. The minister also mentioned that he is confident that our country will be able to reach a self-sufficient level of rice by the end of this year.