By Jonas Reyes

TARLAC — What used to take farmers hours of backbreaking work is now being done in just 15 minutes — thanks to a buzzing piece of technology hovering over the fields of Mayantoc.

During a recent demo under the Scalable, Modern and Adaptive Rice-ICM Technologies for Increased Yield and Reduced Cost of Production (SMART-ICM) project, an agricultural drone swooped over a 1.2-hectare plot in Barangay Ambalingit, scattering rice seeds with surprising speed and precision. In the time it usually takes to prepare a traditional seedbag, the field was already done.

The SMART-ICM Project aims to bring this kind of innovation to more rice farmers — introducing tools that can cut costs, lighten workloads, and ultimately boost harvests. It’s a collaboration among the Provincial Agriculture Office of Tarlac, the municipal government of Mayantoc, and AgriDom.

Among the most excited spectators were immersion students from Josephine M. Cojuangco National Technical Vocational High School, who watched the drone glide effortlessly across the field. For many of them, it was their first time seeing high-tech farming up close.

“Wow, the work in the field gets done so fast! Farmers won’t have a hard time carrying seeds anymore, and they won’t be exposed to the sun as much when they use this,” one student said, amazed at how easily the drone completed what used to be a long, sweaty task.

Beyond direct seeding, agricultural drones are proving to be versatile partners in the field. They can generate detailed maps that show soil conditions and crop health, helping farmers apply water and fertilizer only where needed — saving money and reducing environmental stress. Some units can even monitor livestock and spray pesticides faster and with far less chemical use compared to traditional methods.

For many farmers in Tarlac, this demonstration wasn’t just about watching a drone fly. It was a glimpse into the future of Philippine agriculture—one where technology doesn’t replace farmers, but empowers them.