Photo courtesy of Robinson Niñal Jr./PNA
The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Davao Region partnered with a Japanese firm to test an artificial intelligence driven drone system aimed at improving banana farm monitoring.
The agreement with E Supportlink Co Ltd was signed on Monday to launch a pilot project focused on plant counting and early detection of diseases affecting banana crops.
Officials said the banana sector remains a key contributor to the agricultural economy, especially in Mindanao, but continues to face threats from plant diseases and gaps in accurate farm data.
One of the major concerns is Fusarium wilt, a soil borne disease that causes wilting, discoloration and eventual death of affected plants.
Regional director Macario Gonzaga said pilot testing will be conducted in selected farms in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro, covering about 15 hectares.
He said initial testing was carried out at a farm in Davao City to assess how well the technology can detect early signs of disease.
The system uses drone captured imagery analyzed by artificial intelligence to identify infected plants before symptoms become visible.
Officials said the project will include training, monitoring and data integration efforts, with plans to expand the technology to more growers if results prove effective.
