Labour shortage pushes farmers towards agricultural drones

Agriculture remains a major economic activity in Berbice (East Berbice-Corentyne), but as farmers grapple with difficulties finding workers, technology is increasingly being presented as an alternative.

The scale of the challenge was underscored on Monday, when Labour and Manpower Planning Minister Keoma Griffith, speaking at the induction of the Guyana Technical Training College’s sixth cohort at Port Mourant, cited the 2023 Guyana Workforce Assessment, as summarised by the International Labour Organisation, which projects that agriculture will require more than 12,000 additional workers by 2028.

At the just concluded Berbice Expo, that projected labour demand met one possible technological response, with agricultural drones being showcased for tasks ranging from spraying and spreading to crop monitoring.

Joel Singh of GuyDrones said farmers are already showing interest in the technology, with the availability of labour emerging as a major concern. “Well, a lot of farmers are interested in the drone because, well, manpower. They’re complaining that manpower is a major issue right now. People are not coming out to work. So, the farmers are reaching out to us either to utilise the service or to purchase their own drone,” Singh said.

Among the equipment displayed was an agricultural drone which, according to Singh, can carry up to 50 kilogrammes when spreading and 40 litres when spraying. “The T50 is the payload capacity, which it could carry up to 50 kilogrammes weight when it’s been spreading. However, when it’s doing spraying, it’s 40 litres,” he explained.

Singh said the drone is also equipped with obstacle-avoidance technology which alerts the operator when objects are detected in its path. With a change of tank, he said, the equipment can be used to spread seed or fertiliser.

The technology extends beyond those applications, with systems also available for monitoring crops and identifying particular vegetation in fields. “If there’s a certain vegetation that you’re looking for in the field, a certain type of leaf or anything, we have the technology,” Singh said.

Singh also said operators are required to maintain visual contact with their drones, citing requirements of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority. He said persons purchasing the agricultural equipment are trained in its operation, while the company assists with the paperwork associated with importing the drone.

The Expo’s emphasis on innovation and technology, however, extended beyond the agriculture sector, with another exhibitor presenting a different approach to housing.

Chef Pro Guyana showcased prefab units incorporating a range of features during the construction process. Manager Ruben Samnolsing said the company offers units ranging from offices and single units to two-, three- and four-bedroom homes and two-flat structures.

“All our units come outfitted with electrical, plumbing, security grills, water heater, smart sink, camera system, alarm system, fire system,” he said.

According to Samnolsing, the structures are also treated with a rust-protective coating and anchored to their foundations. He said other features include gable roofing, an emergency side door and an air-conditioning unit.

Samnolsing said a two-bedroom unit is being offered for $5 million, installed on the customer’s property. He said demand in Guyana is not confined to persons seeking individual homes, with prefab units also being used for larger residential projects.

“Right now, we have a lot of projects going on throughout. We are doing some projects in Linden, in Annandale, in parts of Georgetown, where persons are doing housing developments with our homes. So it’s not just persons are buying to live in. Persons are also buying apartment complexes,” Samnolsing said.