Drones improve farming efficiency in Zigui

By Tan Maolin. Hu Xingjun also contributed to this article.

As drones become more integrated into agriculture, Zigui County now boasts over 1,000 certified drone operators. The use of drones for transporting navel oranges and spraying pesticides has greatly enhanced operational efficiency and reduced labor costs.
 

Zigui County has more than 450 agricultural drones deployed for various tasks, including pest control and harvesting, across 167 villages in 12 townships.

Using drones for orange transportation can lower costs by 3,750 yuan (US$515.17) per hectare, based on an average yield of 37.5 tons per hectare. Currently, drone transportation covers about 30 percent of Zigui’s navel orange orchards, totaling 120,000 mu (8,000 hectares). This innovation is projected to save around 30 million yuan in overall expenses.

Zigui County began using drones for pest control in 2016. In 2023, the introduction of high-capacity agricultural drones enabled the first trial for transporting citrus fruits. To date, this initiative has trained over 1,000 certified drone pilots and encouraged more than 2,000 young people to return to work in their hometowns.

The low-altitude economy encompasses economic activities occurring at altitudes below 1,000 meters. This sector gained momentum in 2024, with a significant increase in investment and more than 60 merger and acquisition deals signed. Agricultural drones represent one of the most applied technologies within this emerging sector, showcasing Zigui’s contribution to China’s advancements in low-altitude economic development.