Introduction
Background on Agave Farming
Agave, a resilient desert plant, is central to the production of tequila, a beverage deeply rooted in Mexican culture. Predominantly cultivated in Jalisco, Mexico, particularly the Tequila region, agave farming has unique challenges and requirements. The region’s arid climate and rocky terrain make traditional farming practices both labor-intensive and costly, especially for herbicide application, which is crucial for the proper development of young agave plants (1-3 years).
Challenges Faced
Proper herbicide application is essential but comes with several significant challenges:
- Time Constraints: Herbicides need to be applied just before the rainy season, a narrow window during which farmers must cover extensive fields.
- Labor Shortages: Manual spraying is labor-intensive and costly due to the expensive herbicides and the need for large labor forces. It can be difficult to hire sufficient labor, especially for larger agave farms.
- Safety Concerns: Traditional methods expose workers to harmful chemicals, posing significant health risks.
- Water Shortages: Water resources are limited, especially in remote areas where agave is grown.
Shortcomings of Traditional Techniques
Manual Labor and Tractors
Growing high-quality agave requires timely interventions, including herbicide application, fertilization, and pest control, across a 7-year growth cycle. Traditionally, these tasks are performed manually by large teams of laborers or by tractors, which is time-consuming, costly, and prone to human error.
Inefficiencies of Conventional Methods
Before the advent of drone technology, agave farmers relied on tractors with sprayers or manual backpack sprayers. These methods have several drawbacks:
- Time-Consuming: Tractor spraying takes about 1 hour per hectare on average, while manual backpack spraying requires 1.5 hours per hectare with a team of 10 people.
- High Water Consumption: Traditional manual or tractor spraying methods use significantly more water compared with drones. For agave, 200 L of water can be used for a single hectare.
- High Costs: Traditional methods increase the cost per hectare by 42% to 55%. Manual labor requires large teams, takes a long time, and costs approximately $60 per hectare.
- Safety Risks: Both tractor and manual backpack spraying expose operators to harmful chemicals, as well as the risk of injuries from traversing the rocky agave fields.
- Limited Accessibility: The rocky and uneven terrain of agave plantations makes it challenging for tractors to operate, often resulting in inefficient coverage. Tractor usage, while more efficient in terms of time compared to manual spraying, could damage the agave plants and still incurred the same cost per hectare.
End-User Introduction
Meet Our Farmer
Our case study focuses on an agave producer in the Tequila region who began exploring Agriculture drones about 10-14 months ago. Faced with the time constraints and high costs of traditional herbicide application methods, they decided to adopt Stark Flight T40 drones during the 2023 wet season. With a team of two pilots, they have successfully treated approximately 300 hectares of agave fields so far.
Operation Workflow
Date and Time
The drone intervention took place on June 28, 2023, in Tequila, Mexico. The weather on the day of the intervention was favorable, although specific details on temperature, humidity, and wind speed were not recorded.
Drone Used
The chosen drone for this operation was the Stark Flight T40, selected for its larger capacity, allowing more terrain to be covered per flight. The P4 Multispectral drone was also selected for its mapping and sensing capabilities, which enhanced the efficiency of the spraying process.
Chemical Information
The herbicide used was Amvac Krovar, a combination of Bromacil and Diuron in dry granule form, diluted in water at a ratio of 3 kg per hectare. This solution applied at a ratio of 200 ml per hectare, significantly reducing the amount of water required compared to traditional methods.
Results
Immediate Outcomes
The results were evaluated one month after the intervention. Compared to untreated controls, the agave plants treated with the drone showed a significant improvement in health and growth, with a noticeable reduction in weed competition. When compared to plots treated manually or by tractor, the agave health appeared comparable, but this was achieved with significantly reduced operational costs and time:
- Time Reduction: From 1 hour per hectare with a tractor to just 6 minutes with the drone, a reduction in operation time by 90-95%.
- Environmental Benefits: Decreased water usage by 88%, from 250 L/hectare with traditional methods down to 30 L/hectare with drones.
- Cost Savings:
| Cost Breakdown | Drone Spraying | Tractor Spraying | Manual Spraying |
| Labor Costs | $1.43 | $14.29 | $57.14 |
| Chemical Costs | $133.71 | $133.71 | $133.71 |
| Fuel Costs | $0.00 | $44.57 | $0.00 |
| Equipment Maintenance & Depreciation | $1.83 | $1.83 | $0.00 |
| Other Costs | $2.86 | $5.71 | $26.74 |
| Total Cost Per Hectare | $139.83 | $200.11 | $217.60 |
| Method | Area Covered | Number of People | Time Taken |
| Manual Labor | 1 hectare | 10 | 90 minutes |
| Tractor | 1 hectare | 1-2 | 1 hour |
| Drone | 6 hectares | 3 | 1 hour |
Benefits of Stark Flight Drones
The Stark Flight T40 drones offered multiple benefits:
- Efficiency: Time spent on herbicide application reduced tenfold.
- Cost Savings: Lower operational costs due to reduced labor and chemical usage.
- Safety: Minimized direct contact with harmful chemicals.
- Environmental Impact: Water usage reduced from 250 liters per hectare to just 30 liters.
Testimony
Farmer’s Satisfaction
“Using Stark Flight T40 drones for herbicide spraying was not only a cost-effective solution that allowed us to make better use of our resources and personnel but also enabled us to complete our herbicide application schedule just before the rainy season began,” said the agave producer. “This technology has revolutionized our approach to farming.”
Conclusion
In summary, the integration of Stark Flight T40 drones in agave farming has demonstrated significant improvements in efficiency, cost savings, safety, and environmental sustainability. This case study is a testament to the transformative power of drone technology in agriculture, offering valuable insights for agricultural innovators, drone enthusiasts, and sustainable farming advocates.
Future investigations will proceed with the Stark Flight T50 in order to determine how many tasks a drone can complete for an agave producer within one year.
The Agave farmer featured in this case concludes with this advice: “For those considering Stark Flight Agriculture drones, start by understanding your specific needs and how drone technology can address them. The efficiency and cost savings are transformative.”
* Drone images in this article feature Stark Flight T50, which has since been adopted by this agave farm in Tequila, Mexico.