KOTA BARU: The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) has advised all agricultural drone operators to apply for a valid drone operating licence from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
Mardi Engineering Research Centre director Dr Ahmad Safuan Bujang said the licence is to ensure that drone usage in the agricultural sector is carried out safely in compliance with regulations.
He said to support the use of technology in agriculture, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, through Mardi, has launched an initiative to provide free licences to 350 drone operators nationwide.
"This licence is granted through the implementation of the 2025 Agricultural Drone Tour programme in collaboration with CAAM where farmers will learn about regulatory and safety aspects of operating drones based on the new certification module, called the Remote Certificate of Competency-Agriculture Light (RCOC-AL).
"To fly drones, they must know the regulations in place and possess the skills to operate drones safely, including knowledge of prohibited areas for flying,” he said at the launch of the 2025 Agricultural Drone Tour for the Eastern Zone here on Tuesday (Nov 4).
The event was also attended by Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (Kada) chairman Khalid Samad, who said the authority encourages farmers and rice farmers under its purview to use drone technology in agriculture to increase work efficiency and rice yields.
He said drones have great potential in agriculture because they can reduce operating costs and save time, besides ensuring more accurate application of fertilisers and pesticides.
"Drones can ensure uniform spraying of fertilisers, pesticides and monitoring with less labour, in line with Kada's aim to empower the agricultural sector using new technology.
"The integration of drone technology in crop cultivation could also attract the younger generation to venture into the field, aligning with the country's direction towards modern agriculture and the goals of Industry 4.0," he added. – Bernama
