Elderly Japanese farmers are working with start-up Nileworks to test drones that can hover above paddy fields and perform what would otherwise be backbreaking jobs. JA Miyagi Tome developers say the Nile-T18 device can help rural communities facing labour shortages. It can spread pesticides and fertiliser across a paddy field in about 15 minutes, less than a quarter of the time taken by human farmers, and can also check the growth of individual stalks. The drone will cost about JPY4m ($36,000) and be on the market in May. Nileworks is negotiating for the drone operators not to require a licence.
Elderly Japanese farmers are working with start-up Nileworks to test drones that can hover above paddy fields and perform what would otherwise be backbreaking jobs. Drone developers say the Nile-T18 device can help rural communities facing labour shortages. It can spread pesticides and fertiliser across a paddy field in about 15 minutes, less than a quarter of the time taken by human farmers, and can also check the growth of individual stalks. The drone will cost about JPY4m ($36,000) and be on the market in May. Nileworks is negotiating for the drone operators not to require a licence.