Coopercitrus uses drones to spray crops

When participating on Thursday, August 1st, in the Forum on Financial Models for Agribusiness, in Bebedouro (SP), promoted by Coopercitrus Cooperativa de Produtores Rurais, minister Tereza Cristina (Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) learned about a digital program from cooperative that involves the use of drones.

According to the service offered by the cooperative, crops are mapped via drones, satellites and other technologies, which allows producers to identify flaws in difficult-to-access areas of the plantation. Through mapping, it is possible to check areas affected by pests and weeds, for example.

In this case, drones are used to spray properties. With a delimited flight plan, the device releases drops of pesticides only on the affected and mapped plants, with the product being applied punctually and without human contact.

According to the cooperative, the technique reduces the cost of production, reduces the use of agricultural inputs and pesticides and increases productivity. Spraying using drones has already been applied to more than a thousand hectares of sugarcane plantations, according to the cooperative.

After learning about the technique, the minister informed that she intends to present the project at a public hearing in the Chamber of Deputies on agricultural pesticides. “This [drones] is not just for large producers. You are using it with your members, who are not huge producers, landowners. I want to show the drone passing exactly where it is needed”, said Tereza Cristina.

With more than 35 thousand members, Coopercitrus is one of the largest cooperatives in the country selling agricultural inputs, machinery and implements. There are 60 branches distributed across municipalities in São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Goiás.