Photo taken on March 25, 2024 shows a staff member of the Zhumin Forestry and Fruit Farmers Professional Cooperative in Wensu County, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, plays videos of plant protection unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on their laptop.

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Zhou Peng) news: “Pay attention to controlling the heading of your UAV and try to maintain the same altitude as mine.” On March 25, 2024, Adiljan Tuniyaz, a UAV operator, operated the UAV while giving instructions to another operator in the wheat field of Kalasaer Village, Qiagelake Township, Wensu County, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Aerial photo taken on March 25, 2024 shows Adiljan Tuniyaz operates a UAV to spray pesticides in wheat fields of Wensu County, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Adiljan Tuniyaz has been working outside his hometown since graduating from junior college in 2012, and he returned to his hometown to farm in 2016. In 2018, he saw agricultural technicians using plant protection UAVs to manage farmland in the village, which inspired him to learn UAV operation. Later, with the help of agricultural technicians at the forest management station in Qiagelake Township, he obtained a certificate for operating plant protection UAV in March of the same year. In 2023, he spent more than 80,000 yuan (about 11,041 U.S. dollars) to purchase a plant protection UAV for pesticide spraying, seeding and fertilizing.

Photo taken on March 25, 2024 shows Adiljan Tuniyaz (right) maintains his plant protection UAV in Wensu County, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Using plant protection UAVs for pesticide spraying, sowing and fertilizing is not only efficient, but also time- and labor-saving. Adiljan Tuniyaz earned his first bucket of gold in his first year of farming with UAVs.

“Last year, I earned about 130,000 yuan (about 17,941 U.S. dollars) through using plant protection UAV, and the cost of buying it has come back, with a net profit of tens of thousands yuan. Nowadays, there are many people asking me to help them, and I can manage at least about 33.3 hectares of farmland in a day. After deducting the cost, I can earn at least 150,000 yuan (about 20,701 U.S. dollars) a year,” Adiljan Tuniyaz said with a smile.

Aerial photo taken on March 25, 2024 shows Adiljan Tuniyaz operates a plant protection UAV to spray pesticide in Wensu County, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

At present, there are 74 farmers like Adiljan Tuniyaz who have their own plant protection UAVs in Wensu County. And UAVs are widely used in the rice, wheat, cotton, and forestry and fruit industries. The average annual operating area remains about 666,667 hectares, effectively reducing production costs, improving operational efficiency and effects, and promoting crop yield. At the same time, it also provides new channels for farmers to start their own businesses and increase their income.

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