The Department of Agriculture organized a three-day Training of Trainers on using drones for spraying chemicals and fertilizers in Phobjikha from April 23 to 25, 2024.

April 25, 2024: The Department of Agriculture organized a three-day Training of Trainers on using drones for spraying chemicals and fertilizers in Phobjikha from April 23 to 25, 2024.

Technical officials from research centers, central programs, and some young farmers attended the training. It was conducted by three drone experts from Hindsky Innovation Private Ltd., India.The participants learned how to operate drones for spraying chemicals and fertilizers on crops, as well as how to maintain them and adhere to Bhutan's UAS Regulation 2017.

This training is part of the department's effort to address the shortage of farm labor by mechanizing agriculture. According to the RNR Census 2019, around 22,300 acres of agricultural land remain uncultivated due to a lack of labor. The drones were provided through an FAO TCP project called 'Peri-Urban and Urban Farming,' which aims to involve young people in agriculture.