The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Monday announced the use of drones to spray insecticides on a sugarcane farm in Barangay Camandag, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, as part of efforts to combat the red-striped soft scale insect infestation, according to BusinessWorld.
The SRA reported that favorable weather conditions and close collaboration with local farmers contributed to the success of the drone operation. The agency is exploring the technology as a more efficient and targeted method of pest control compared to traditional manual spraying.
The red-striped soft scale insect has been a recurring threat to sugarcane crops in the region, affecting yield and quality. The SRA's adoption of drone technology underscores a broader push for precision agriculture in the Philippine sugar industry, aiming to reduce chemical use and improve response times against pests.