By Kenneth Marcos 
Under the warm morning sun of Guimaras, local farmers and agriculture workers watched with excitement as a new high-tech farming tool was officially handed over to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) – a drone that promises to change the way they farm.
On October 2025, the Bureau of Plant Industry – Guimaras National Crop Research, Development, and Production Support Center (BPI-GNCRDPSC) received a DJI Agras T40 drone from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TiKA). The turnover ceremony marked a big step forward in bringing smart farming technology to the province’s agriculture sector.
The DJI Agras T40 is a modern agricultural drone built for large-scale farm tasks. It can spray crops with precision and create detailed field maps—functions that are usually done manually and take hours or days to complete. With this drone, BPI researchers and local farmers will be able to apply fertilizers, pesticides, and water more efficiently, saving time, labor, and resources.
According to officials, the drone will first be used in research and training projects to support mango growers in Guimaras. The island is one of the country’s major producers of high-quality mangoes and is known for its strict control of pests and diseases.
The use of smart technologies like drones aligns with the Department of Agriculture’s push for digital transformation in farming. These innovations are especially important in the face of challenges such as climate change, declining farm productivity, and a shortage of young farmers entering the industry.
BPI Guimaras officials thanked TiKA for the donation, saying the drone will not only improve agricultural practices but also help educate and empower farmers on the ground. Training sessions and demonstrations will be organized to make sure the technology is maximized and adapted to local conditions.
This partnership between TiKA and the Department of Agriculture reflects a shared goal of creating more resilient, efficient, and sustainable farming communities. For farmers in Guimaras and across the country, smart tools like the DJI Agras T40 could be the key to producing more food with less waste.
As farming becomes more challenging, combining tradition with technology may be the way forward—for better harvests, stronger communities, and a food-secure future.
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