Pesticide spraying drones are not the perfect solution. Therefore, it is necessary to have a methodical and scientific study on the application process of these devices soon.
Will research to give scientific guidance
According to Mr. Hoang Trung, Director of the Plant Protection Department, the use of drones in pesticide spraying has many advantages compared to traditional methods. Currently, many countries such as China, Japan, Korea … have also applied this technology, especially the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is also interested in and testing this technology in some countries. Africa to control the desert locust epidemic. 
In recent years, the use of flying equipment in pesticide spraying in our country has become more and more popular. However, there are still many issues that need to be studied when using this device. Photo: TL. With the initiative in the past time, businesses have gone through many channels, imported drones with diverse configurations and capacities … showing the ability to apply this new technology solution quite effectively in pest control. on plants. Later, the drone can also be applied to sowing seeds in the Mekong Delta provinces or to apply foliar fertilizers … In addition to the benefits such as user safety, large capacity, time-saving …, this device also has some issues to be clarified. Accordingly, it is necessary to have a scientific basis, to guide effectively and strictly according to the provisions of law. Currently, there are no official results to confirm that using drones in pesticide spraying helps reduce the amount of pesticides. In the FAO guidelines for use, the drone is still just a tool that must use pesticides in accordance with the dosage stated on the label. In addition, there is the current situation, many places have overstated information and advertising that any crop, any form of medicine can use drones. This is information that has absolutely no scientific basis. The Plant Protection Department recognizes the results from the initiative of enterprises and organizations in researching and applying scientific and technological achievements to production. However, to use it effectively, there is a scientific basis and in accordance with the law. Therefore, in the coming time, it is necessary to have more in-depth and comprehensive studies and evaluations on both the efficiency of use as well as the technical and economic efficiency of the drone. In particular, it is necessary to evaluate the safety level of using drones in pesticide spraying for other objects in the area of use such as aquatic products, bees, etc. In addition, it is necessary to delve into techniques and find out the forms drugs, biological effects can be used appropriately and effectively with drones. Secondly, it is necessary to study plant objects suitable for the use of drones in pesticide spraying. For example, in areas where scattered trees and industrial crops are grown, the use of drones can be said to be ineffective, or as objects on the underside of leaves such as mosquito bugs, anthracnose, etc. Therefore, harmful organisms also need to be evaluated and classified to apply drones appropriately in spraying pesticides. For example, objects lying in the trunk, on the ground, weeds clinging to the base have almost no effect when using a drone. The Department of Plant Protection will also study to provide guidance on the form of drugs to be used with drones. From the perspective of a state management agency, the Department is responsible for clarifying this issue. 
The use of drones in the past time has been effective and has many advantages on rice, but there have been no scientific studies on other crops. Illustrative photos. Hoang Trung also said that the mechanism of action of the drugs also needs to be evaluated before being used with drones. In addition, it is necessary to evaluate the plant objects and harmful objects that can use drones in spraying effectively. On the other hand, it will be necessary to evaluate and classify according to the capacity and specifications of the drone corresponding to the appropriate crop objects. For example, a large-capacity drone can be suitable for spraying pesticides for rice or some crops, but cannot be used for vegetables because it will destroy the plants… From the above assessments, the goal of the Plant Protection Department is to work with businesses to come up with procedures and documentation for using drones across the country. In addition, the Department will also develop standards for testing pesticides used by drones. Many concerns about the limitations of drones At the meeting, some opinions suggested that there should be more specific and scientific studies in the application of drones in pesticide spraying. According to a representative of the Southern Pesticide Testing Center (Pesticide Department), in order to spray effectively, pesticides must be able to contact the objects that need to be protected or destroyed. However, the use of drones may have many limitations in pesticide spraying such as difficulty in contact with pests and diseases such as brown planthoppers, dry streaks below for rice or thick canopy trees… In addition, the use of drones will use less water than traditional also reduces the effectiveness of the drug. Another problem is that using a drone causes the particles to fall freely but slowly, so it is possible that some of the medicine will evaporate before reaching the leaves. Using a drone with a more concentrated drug concentration than traditional spraying can also cause acute poisoning of plants. In addition, the use of drones will cause waste of pesticides, affecting the ecological environment if used for scattered crops. The Center for Plant Protection in the South (Department of Plant Protection) said that the application of drones in the Mekong Delta is increasingly popular on rice and some fruit trees. Many farmers rate drones as highly effective against pests located at the top of the foliage. 
The use of drones in pesticide spraying still has many limitations that need to be studied. Photo: TL. However, with trees with uneven heights in the same area such as coconuts, the ability to contact leaves is not optimal because the drone can only fly at a certain stable height that cannot be continuously changed. The height is suitable for each height of the crop, leading to the not equally optimal distance of pesticides to the top of the tree. The Northern Center for Plant Protection also said that it is necessary to study and evaluate the effectiveness of drones and devise ways to use each drug. In addition, there is a need to have scientific assessments of the effects on the environment and plants when using drones to spray pesticides with high concentrations (due to less water). Because normally, the amount of water when spraying pesticides is 400-500 l/ha, while using a drone it is only about 15 l/ha. Mr. Nguyen Quy Duong, Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department suggested that in the coming time, there should be more assessments on the process and effectiveness of using drones for intercropping areas. According to Mr. Duong, in the Mekong Delta, people now use pre-germination herbicides and except yellow apple snails at the same time, so there is a need for studies on the possibility of using mixed drugs when spraying with drones. In addition, it is necessary to have a baseline standard for testing devices and forms of medicine to come here, it is necessary to clearly state on the drug label the dose used (amount of water) when used with a drone. The Plant Protection Department said that based on the results of businesses and units that have applied drones over the past time, as well as international experience, the Plant Protection Department will develop a master plan to continue researching. Research and perfect both equipment and processes to use in a scientific, safe and most effective way for the application of drones in plant protection. In the immediate future, the Department of Plant Protection suggests that it is necessary to focus on researching and perfecting the drone application process for 5 groups of liquid drugs including EC, SC, SE, SL, ME; 4 groups of solid drugs including WP, SP, WG, GR. Regarding plants, focus on researching and perfecting the process of applying drones to rice (focusing on leaf rollers, brown planthoppers, rice blasts, powdery mildew, herbicides); fall and powdery mildew on corn; aphids, downy mildew on fruit trees (especially citrus, mango, litchi; industrial plants such as coffee, tea, and cashew; caterpillars on pine trees and silkworms on cruciferous vegetables).
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