Agriculture Ministry Entrusts Unhas with Rp11 Billion Drone Production

The Ministry of Agriculture has entrusted Hasanuddin University (Unhas) with the production of its innovative agricultural technology, the Unhas Sprayer-Spreader Drone (USD), in a project valued at Rp11 billion. Unhas Rector Prof Dr Jamaluddin Jompa stated in Makassar on Sunday that the innovation is now being disseminated nationally to support agricultural modernisation and strengthen the food self-sufficiency programme. He explained that each USD unit has undergone a series of tests to ensure the effectiveness of spraying and seed spreading across various land characteristics before distribution. In the initial phase, 50 USD units are prepared for distribution to 46 regencies and cities across Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, and Papua. This distribution marks the initial step in disseminating the university’s innovation so that it can be widely utilised by farmers. Andi Amijoyo Mochtar, Head of the Sub-directorate for Incubator and Science Techno Park (STP) Management at Unhas and the developer of the USD, explained that the innovation is the result of technological development designed to meet farmers’ needs for a seed-spreading system that is more efficient, precise, and easy to operate. ‘Next year’s development will be optimised to enter the manufacturing stage. The identity of this drone is Unhas. We are building a joint commitment so that this innovation continues to develop through collaboration with various parties,’ he stated. The USD is a technological development specifically designed to address the efficiency challenges of rice cultivation. Equipped with a large-capacity seed tank, the device can cover a wide planting area with simple and automatic operation. Its operating system is designed to be user-friendly with automatic controls, allowing farmers to operate it without needing in-depth technical knowledge. Going forward, Unhas will continue to develop the USD so that it is increasingly utilised in the national agricultural sector. In this downstream process, Unhas is partnering with PT Ener Sky Innovation as an industrial partner to support development towards the manufacturing stage and strengthen production capacity.