Najaf Agriculture Directorate adopts drones to boost efficiency in farming

NAJAF – The Najaf Agriculture Directorate has begun using drones to revolutionize local agricultural practices, including pest control for crops like tomatoes and amber rice, irrigation, seeding, and agricultural surveys. Officials say the adoption of modern technology has reduced time, labor, and crop damage associated with traditional farming methods. Drones have been deployed successfully in areas such as Al-Mishkhab, Al-Abbasiya, Al-Hurriya, and Al-Qadisiyah, delivering “satisfactory results,” according to the Directorate.

“We have several types of drones, including those with capacities of 20, 30, and 40 liters,” said Amir Sahib Al-Haddad, head of the Prevention Department at the Najaf Agriculture Directorate, in an interview with 964 media. “Some drones specialize in spreading seeds and fertilizers, particularly for rangeland in the Najaf desert. We also have fuel-powered drones, which operate for longer durations compared to battery-powered ones.”.

Al-Haddad highlighted additional applications, including drones equipped for pest control and public health interventions that utilize thermal fogging systems. “We also use drones with remote sensing systems for point-based counting and agricultural surveys,” he added.

Agricultural engineer Ahmed Noumi told 964media of the transformative impact of drone technology in managing challenging farming conditions. “We’ve used drones for pest control on crops like rice and wheat,” Noumi explained. “Traditional methods often lead to crop damage due to the machinery used for spraying pesticides. Drones have significantly reduced time and labor requirements while minimizing crop damage, representing a major advancement in pest control practices.”

The Directorate continues to expand its drone capabilities, aiming to modernize farming operations across the Najaf region.