At the rapeseed cultivation base in Huandanshan Village, Dahé Miao Township, Xingwen County, drones flew steadily overhead, evenly scattering rapeseed into the fields. Farmer Zhang Zhongjun leased 20 acres of land for rapeseed cultivation. Using traditional manual methods as in previous years, six skilled workers would have taken several days to complete the planting. This year, the drones finished sowing in just one day, reducing labor costs by nearly 70%. “In the past, planting one acre per person per day was exhausting and uneven. Now, the drones can sow 20 acres in just one hour—so much easier and more efficient,” Zhang Zhongjun said happily.

“The advantages of drone seeding extend far beyond speed and labor savings,” explained a relevant official from the Dahhe Miao Ethnic Township’s Agricultural and Rural Development Service Center. The township has introduced plant protection drones equipped with precision seeding systems. Staff can flexibly adjust seeding parameters based on soil fertility and terrain characteristics of different plots, precisely controlling rapeseed usage per mu between 0.3 to 0.6 kilograms. This not only avoids seed waste but also increases seedling emergence rates by over 15% compared to traditional seeding methods.
It is reported that Dahé Miao Ethnic Township plans to plant over 10,000 mu of rapeseed this year. The drone-assisted “aerial seeding” of rapeseed is a concrete example of Xingwen County’s “technology + agriculture” initiative. Moving forward, Xingwen County will continue advancing agricultural modernization by promoting new technologies such as drone-based plant protection and irrigation, aiming to boost farmers’ incomes and inject new momentum into rural industries.