Drones Are Now Landing in Cagayan's Farms. Here Is What 237 Farmers, Students, and Local Officials Saw.
The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority brought agricultural drone technology directly to farmers in Iguig, Cagayan on April 23 — live demonstrations, open consultations, and a clear signal that precision farming is no longer a Metro Manila conversation.
Modern farming took a step closer to the fields of Cagayan on April 23, 2026, when the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) held a Drone Information Caravan at the Department of Agriculture Southern Cagayan Research Center (DA-SCRC) in Iguig, Cagayan.
A total of 237 participants joined the activity — farmers, representatives from local government units and partner agencies, students, and private sector stakeholders. They came to see, firsthand, what Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), or agricultural drones, can actually do in a working field.
What Farmers Saw on the Ground
The caravan was not a seminar with slides. It was a live demonstration — drones in the air over actual farmland, showing how precision application of inputs works in practice. Participants watched how drone technology can accelerate field operations, reduce the physical burden on farmers, and apply fertilizers and pesticides with greater accuracy than traditional manual methods. The result, as presented during the event, is higher yields with less labor and less waste.
The session also included an open consultation where farmers could ask directly: how do you access drone services, what are the regulations, and what does it actually cost to use one? These are the questions that determine whether a technology demonstration becomes adoption — and organizers made space for them.
Who Brought This to Cagayan
The caravan was led by the FPA in partnership with the DA Regional Field Office 02, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), local government units across the province, and private agriculture companies operating in the region.
DA Regional Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino underscored why this kind of initiative matters at the farm level. "Through drone technology, physical fatigue is reduced, time is saved, and the application of inputs becomes more precise," she said. "This helps prevent losses and increases farmer income." The technical demonstration was made possible with the support of Agridome Solutions Corp., a licensed drone service provider operating in Region 02, which handled the live demonstration and technical aspects of the event.
Why This Matters for Northern Luzon
Cagayan Valley is one of the Philippines' most productive agricultural regions, and precision agriculture adoption at this scale signals a meaningful shift in how regional farming stakeholders are approaching modernization. The involvement of IRRI, NIA, the DA regional office, and private drone operators in a single field activity shows what coordinated ecosystem action looks like — not a top-down directive, but a convergence of public institutions, research bodies, LGUs, and the private sector around a shared practical goal.
For founders and agri-tech startups operating in Northern Luzon, this is also a market signal. Demand for drone services, precision input management, and agricultural data tools is being seeded at the grassroots — one information caravan at a time.
Source: Department of Agriculture – Cagayan Valley Regional Field Office | Original report by Aza-zel T. Erro | cagayanvalley.da.gov.ph
Are you a founder, innovator, or community builder in Northern Luzon?
We're always looking for compelling stories from the region's ecosystem. Whether you're launching a startup, running a program, or doing something interesting — we'd love to feature you.