Proactive investments in equipment, combined with a controlled sandbox testing program for low-altitude economic development, are unlocking further opportunities to integrate science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation into production practices.

In late September, coinciding with the start of the coffee harvest season, the Việt Nam Post Corporation (Việt Nam Post) inaugurated and commissioned a freight and agricultural produce transport service utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles in Mường Ảng commune. This represents one of the concrete activities under the provincial pilot sandbox for low-altitude economic development utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles.

With extensive coffee areas located on steep hillsides, hauling agricultural produce from swidden fields to aggregation hubs typically consumes substantial labor, time, and expenses. Under such conditions, UAVs can shoulder part of the transport workload, moving produce across terrains that remain difficult to access via conventional methods.

Beyond agricultural logistics, UAVs can assist across multiple production phases, including sowing, spraying crop protection chemicals, applying fertilizers, monitoring crop growth, and transporting farming supplies. These utilities are garnering keen interest from local agricultural producers. Several businesses and individuals have proactively explored and invested in equipment to serve production.

One of the pioneer entities to deploy this technology is the Điện Biên Macadamia and Forestry Seedling Development Investment Joint Stock Company. Recognizing the efficiency of UAVs in orchard management, the enterprise invested in late July in a DJI AGRAS T100 agricultural drone featuring a 100-liter spray tank, a 150-liter spreading payload, and a 100kg transport capacity. Alongside acquiring the equipment, the company dispatched personnel for training to secure certified operating credentials in accordance with regulations.

Phạm Duy Thành, Director of the company, shared: “Through research and on-site trials, we found that UAVs are well-suited to production conditions here, especially across large crop acreages and sloped terrain. The company currently manages over 10ha of macadamia. Spraying manually across this entire area requires roughly one week and at least three laborers; meanwhile, deploying a UAV takes just one day with two operators. Using UAVs for crop care, spraying, and irrigation is much faster, and critically ensures seasonal timeliness aligned with tree growth phases, thereby elevating flowering and fruiting rates.”

According to Thành, UAVs also enable businesses to remain more proactive in the face of shifting weather patterns. Under manual methods, rain or adverse weather can halt spraying and irrigation routines, disrupting care schedules. Flight equipment compresses execution time, capitalizing on favorable weather windows to conclude operations at the proper juncture to meet vegetative development requirements.

The effectiveness of this technology has likewise captured the attention of local farmers. After observing a live UAV demonstration in Mường Ảng commune, Mùa A Nhìa, from Chế Á village, Quài Tở commune, recognized the distinct advantages of flight equipment over manual labor. Consequently, in August, he decided to invest in a UAV unit to tend his family’s coffee fields.

Practical realities demonstrate that UAVs are being integrated into several agricultural phases across Điện Biên, opening fresh avenues for science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. In this context, the low-altitude economy is identified by the province as a high-potential domain; 2026 is viewed as a year of “vigorous launch” for application and testing.

Earlier, on June 23, the Điện Biên provincial People’s Committee issued a Decision granting a controlled sandbox testing license for low-altitude economic development utilizing UAVs, operated primarily by the Việt Nam Post with technical coordination provided by FPT Corporation. Testing focuses on transporting agricultural produce and farming supplies; seeding, pesticide spraying, fertilization, and crop monitoring; while expanding into logistics, healthcare, and digital mapping.

Through May 31, 2027, approximately 6,000 flights are projected to be conducted, targeting a safety rate above 99%. To bring this technology closer to production realities, communes and wards across the province are stepping up communication and outreach to residents, cooperatives, businesses, and local organizations, encouraging interested parties to observe and experience the services. Through these efforts, producers can gain a clearer understanding of application potential, efficiency, and necessary prerequisites when utilizing UAVs.

From the coffee and macadamia hillsides of today, UAVs are progressively transforming low-altitude economic concepts into concrete production value. This expands practical applications of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, contributing new momentum to agricultural production in Điện Biên.