Minister Amran: Drones can transport grain in areas without farm access roads

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has stated that drone technology could be utilised to transport grain in areas that do not have farm access roads, thereby making the distribution of harvests more efficient. He noted that this innovation is part of the agricultural modernisation efforts continuously promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture to overcome challenges on the ground, particularly regarding harvest transportation. “In the future, where there are no farm access roads, grain can be transported using drones, as they can carry up to 100 kilogrammes. Isn’t that great? After using drones for planting, this is the next stage,” Amran said after a Coordination Meeting on the Development of Modern Agriculture-Advanced Agriculture System (PM-AAS) in Jakarta on Thursday. He was responding to confirmation about a farmer in Tuban Regency, East Java, who used a large agricultural drone for commuting to and from his rice fields. Amran considered the farmer’s action creative but reminded everyone that drone usage must be conducted safely and without endangering oneself. “It was very interesting when I read about the farmer using a drone. The important thing is not to fall and not to endanger anyone. But if the drone flies just two hand-spans above the ground, it is interesting to use for going home,” he said. According to Amran, drones can be used not only for planting but also for carrying grain with a capacity of around 100 kilogrammes from the fields to collection points. He believes that using drones to transport grain will assist farmers in areas with limited access, making the harvest distribution process faster, easier, and more efficient. He noted that this technological application is a follow-up stage after the use of drones for planting, which is now being implemented in various agricultural areas in Indonesia. He stressed that the Ministry of Agriculture continues to develop technology-based innovations to increase productivity, accelerate fieldwork, and sustainably strengthen the competitiveness of the national agricultural sector. Amran also revealed that he and his staff at the ministry are actively conducting research to produce various innovations that can be directly applied to support the modernisation of Indonesian agriculture. He expressed optimism that the use of drones as a means of transporting grain will be a solution for farmers in areas without farm access roads, while also accelerating the transformation towards a more advanced and efficient modern agriculture. “So later, for lifting grain where there are no farm access roads, use drones. For planting, use drones,” Amran said.