Drones playing bigger role in Japanese crop management

Drones are finding increasing use in Japanese agriculture as farmers start to use the unmanned aerial vehicles for crop inspection and other purposes. Drones "are effective in promoting data-based agriculture and reducing agricultural work" at a time when many aged farmers are struggling to find successors, says an official at the farm ministry's Technology Policy Office. In Japan, it is necessary for unmanned helicopters that spray pesticide, fertilizer or seeds to be registered with a special organization. Registration became necessary for drones in 2015. As of January, 673 drones had been registered, up about three times since last March.