Jatiluwih Farmers Use Drones for Fertilisation, Saving Time and Effort

Farmers in the Jatiluwih Subak, Jatiluwih Village, Penebel District, Tabanan, Bali, are now beginning to utilise drone technology to accelerate the rice fertilisation process. This method is considered more efficient and capable of reducing physical labour compared to manual approaches.

I Gede Made Ardana, from the Jatiluwih Tourist Destination Development Sector, explained that the purpose of using drone technology is to make things easier for farmers. This is because the fertilisation process has previously required considerable time and effort, especially given the 227-hectare area of the Jatiluwih subak.

“Due to the size and to shorten the time, this drone is used,” said Ardana during an interview on Monday (20/4/2026).

The use of drones is not a new development. This method has been implemented since early 2025.

Meanwhile, the type of fertiliser applied is hormone fertiliser, which functions to promote rice growth, strengthen stems, and fruits. Ardana explained that the fertiliser is first mixed with 1.5 litres of water.

It is then attached to the drone and flown. The volume of 1.5 litres of fertiliser can cover one hectare.

“This fertiliser application is routinely carried out every two weeks,” he added.

However, given the vastness of the Jatiluwih Subak, drone fertilisation cannot reach all areas. The reason is that some rice fields lack terracing and have many trees.

Additionally, the drone’s battery capacity does not allow it to cover the entire subak area. “Flying the drone requires two batteries. The challenge is that when the battery is about to run out, recharging is not feasible,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the challenges of using drones, according to Ardana, include natural factors such as rain and strong winds.