The agricultural sector in North Gorontalo Regency is preparing to enter a modern era with the introduction of crop-spraying drone technology. This inaugural trial was initiated by PT Maxxi Agri Indonesia in collaboration with PT Maxxi Tani Teknologi (MTT), receiving full support from the Department of Agriculture of North Gorontalo Regency. This collaboration aims to provide practical solutions to boost the productivity of local agricultural land.
PT Maxxi Tani Teknologi Drone Pilot, Zulqifli, revealed that this initial socialisation received a very positive response from both the local government and farmers' groups. This modernization step was adapted from the success of the agricultural sector in Thailand, which is considered successful in integrating technology to accelerate yield growth through close cooperation between the government and technology providers.
In the offered ecosystem, farmers do not need to spend heavily to purchase expensive drone units. PT Maxxi Tani Teknologi provides direct spraying services in the field, while PT Maxxi Agri Indonesia supplies agricultural production inputs such as superior seeds, quality fertilizers, and pesticides. This partnership model ensures advanced technology can be inclusively accessed by all categories of farmers.
Operational efficiency is the main advantage of using this XAG P60 type drone. Compared to manual methods that require around four workers for a one-hectare area, this drone can complete the job in just 30 minutes. In addition to cutting work time, even aerial spraying is claimed to potentially increase crop yields by up to 20 percent at competitive service costs.
From a technical standpoint, the XAG P60 drone is equipped with a digital land mapping system. Before the spraying process begins, the rice fields are mapped first to determine an automated flight path. This precise path ensures even distribution of liquid fertilizer or pesticide without missing any areas. Flight operations are also limited to the best times for plants to absorb nutrients, namely in the morning from 06:00 to 09:00 WITA and in the late afternoon before sunset.
