AgriDOM

The Philippines' rich heritage of farming practices makes agriculture a key pillar of its economy with immense promise. Yet the younger generation shies away from agriculture due to the largely ineffective, entrenched traditional processes. The industry is in dire need of modernization to address outdated, laborious practices, time-consuming methods, and the slow pace of technological integration to reshape farming into a dynamic, innovative, and rewarding profession. Along comes a company that strives to change the way that pillar is shored up by the younger generation.

"Decades ago, the Philippines was the rice production frontrunner in the ASEAN Region. Even the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was established in this country to sustain the production of the Asian staple food. However, years of neglect has led to the decline of the local rice industry," says AgriDOM CEO Dom L. Subang. As a company focused on helping the Philippines agriculture sector attain higher returns on investment, AgriDOM Solutions Corp. is taking the lead in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) fertilizer and pesticide spreading and spraying, after-sales support and services, mapping, surveying, and monitoring, UAV pilot training, and license processing, and unit sales and registration. Its intelligent and advanced drone technology delivers efficient and precise mapping and spray operations that ensure cost efficiency.

AgriDOM strives to boost Philippine agriculture through Digitization, Optimization, and Modernization. Its goal is to make farming a viable, safe, and lucrative profession for younger generations by using precision farming technology that is accessible, available, and affordable.

"Over our 7,107 islands, we grow food on 13 million hectares out of the 30 million land, which is impressive, so there is great room for growth to produce not only for local consumption but also for export," explains Subang. Aside from rice, AgriDOM is also engaged in the banana, pineapple, corn, and sugarcane industries.

Enhancing Farming Efficiency

While employing 24 percent of the Filipino workforce, the agricultural sector provides only 8.9 percent of total GDP, a number that, according to experts, could be tripled over the next decade with the right investment in technology.

Drones enhance farming efficiency by covering larger areas many times faster than manual methods, thereby increasing operational efficiency. It protects farmers from potential pesticide-related harms, such as poisoning and heat stroke incidents, while ensuring uniform fertilizer and pesticide distribution across fields. Moreover, drones efficiently reduce water usage by 90 percent as compared to traditional methods like manual or boom sprayers. This phenomenal reduction conserves precious inputs and minimizes chemical runoff, promoting a healthier and more sustainable approach to farming.

Designed to ensure dignity in farm work, AgriDOM's drone technology plays an instrumental role in transforming the perception of agriculture among Filipino youth. Simplifying tasks like pesticide application and crop monitoring, it reduces hard labor, encouraging the younger demographic to appreciate and engage with the agricultural sector and build a sustainable, secure future for the industry.

"Our pilots and drone spraying technicians are duly trained via our government- recognized pilot academy and accredited by regulatory agencies such as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Fertilizer Pesticides Authority of the Department of Agriculture. Safety is a way of life for us even before takeoff and well after touchdown," says Subang.

Boosting Agricultural Productivity

The technology initially gained traction among multinational corporations specializing in banana and pineapple exports. Adding drone technology to their usual operations, these corporations have achieved precision in their spraying operations. Cavendish banana farms tally 60,000 hectares, while pineapple farms account for 67,000 hectares, thereby creating a considerable market for drone spraying.

AgriDOM's goal is to provide technology that can benefit small-scale rice and corn farmers in the agricultural community. This will encourage wider adoption of the technology. Currently, the Philippines government is focused on increasing rice yields. This presents an opportunity to expand AgriDOM's services to an additional 2.5 million hectares of rice fields planted per cropping.

The company intends to show that modernization is the way to go forward and reestablish the country as a leading rice producer.

"We are not only focused on aerial drones. We are also intent on promoting the use of unmanned ground vehicles to boost agricultural productivity," says Subang. "As a full spectrum provider of modern technology and farm inputs, we also have a range of fertilizers that help ensure healthy and hefty crop yields.” AgriDOM is part of a farm-to-market ecosystem under the SF Group of Companies based in Davao City.

Providing Cutting-Edge Precision Technology and Expertise

AgriDOM is a major importer and dealer of drones in the country and runs its own academy for training pilots and growers in its multiple applications. Continuing to serve a growing clientele of over 100 customers, and with a continually increasing count of trained drone pilots that now exceeds 300, the company has successfully covered more than 200,000 hectares. This ongoing commitment underscores the company's industry leadership and showcases the enduring impact of indigenous entrepreneurship. As the numbers continue to climb, the company remains dedicated to improving lives and ensuring future food security through its innovative approach.

AgriDOM developed a platform that gathers and digitalize pertinent data encompassing details such as seed varieties, pesticide and fertilizer usage, delivery rates, flight durations, covered areas, frequency, and specific crop applications, among other essential factors. This rich repository of information not only equips farmers with crucial insights but also provides them with the necessary tools to enhance their agricultural practices.

Top of Form

Beyond drone distribution and sales, the company undertakes multiple initiatives to modernize agriculture and make drone usage seamless for farmers.

Recognizing the need to have pilots for its drones, AgriDOM has been providing for that specific need with its pilot academy. The academy is not only the first but also currently the only accredited training center for agriculture drone operation by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) of the Philippines.

With drones chalking increased flight hours, AgriDOM set up its technical service center, which provides comprehensive support in the maintenance and repairs of drones.

Not to be outdone is AgriDOM's spray service team, which provides professional drone- based spraying services for small-scale farmers who may not have the capital to invest in the technology. Currently, it operates a model akin to franchising with subcontractors who cater to businesses interested in offering spraying services using its drone technology.

With its initiatives, AgriDOM has been recognized as an industry leader and has garnered the following awards:

• Tech2Transform I-We - Best in Digital Marketing - 2022

• Ayala Enterprise Circle - Ayala Incredibiz Awards - Best in Business Breakthrough - 2022

• GoNegosyo - Most Inspiring Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Awards 2023

• Agritech Company of the Year for the Voice of Digital Pilipinas - Digital Bayanihan Awards 2023

AgriDOM stands as a trusted ally providing cutting-edge precision technology and expertise for existing and budding farmers. It is poised to lead the way to a new era of agriculture in the Philippines-one that is not only more productive but safer and sustainable.