The Spreader

The Spreader. 

I was in an important meeting when an unexpected text something came from left field:  DJI asked if New Hope would take delivery of the Spreader.  I said to myself, “What? Spreader?” 

Nobody asked for it, let alone envision the concept. 

They sent over a picture of the Spreader tank which was nothing more than a curved plastic flask, understating the magic that it could bring.  DJI said it could spread granulated materials, such as chemicals, fertilizers, and… seeds. 

After the formalities, I showed it to a very senior client and asked what he thought:  Game changer.  Based on concept alone, they turned around and gave me an order.    

I thought, perhaps, we are on to something big.  But spinning a success story without truly realizing the value proposition is not a good strategy.  I needed to fully grasp the impact of this technology. 

New Hope is fortunate to be aligned with highly capable partners who unselfishly share broad insight into rice farming and how drone innovation may shaped by it.  We headed to Los Baños.  

The Spreader can apply various materials, but their interest is only in one thing:  Direct seeding.  The vast majority of the rice growing world plants rice through direct seeding which is done manually.  Transplanters aside, there hasn’t been any significant innovation to compel farmers to automate since—quite literally—the beginning of time.    

The idea is sound but, as they say, proof is in the pudding.  A month later when the hardware arrived, I went back to Los Baños on a Saturday and our partners helped me mount it on the MG-1S.  And just as the Spreader made its maiden launch, the senior research scientist, just happened to pass by with his family. 

This is going to be big, said the scientist, clutching his growing boy in his arms as he observed the hopper dispense seeds across the lawn.  It provides a compelling alternative to all direct seeders, particularly those in vast tracts, such as the Mekong Delta. 

There is tremendous variance among rice growing communities in Asia, dispensing up to 80 kilos of seeds, quality sometimes compromised by weeds.  The promotion of quality seeds, whether hybrid or inbred, has been a been a boon to progressives.  But then, all inputs are only as good as how they were applied. 

And so, that is the ‘Eureka!’ moment seen by high level professionals.  Precision application allows optimization of seeds at lower thresholds while gaining benefits never before seen.   

The Spreader can apply a 20-kilogram payload in about 20 minutes, or 3 hectares per hour.  Speed is a key benefit for IPM because communities would otherwise be competing for the same finite labor pool at the same time.  Further, the vertical stakeholders from the owner, financier, and caretaker can rest assured the seeds were applied evenly.  

The Spreader gives farmers a choice for automation other than the transplanter (P4,000+/ha).  At P1,350/ha, it’s a compelling choice for direct seeders who spend almost the equivalent amount for manual labor.

Our appreciation for technology is that it creates a new paradigm so that stakeholders can re-align and find a more beneficial way to share the pie.  

As financier, the risk profile of a farmer seeking to finance manual (traditional) methods is different from another farmer who will farm apply seeds using drones.  Simply put, financier would have more visibility with drones and is able to establish a baseline across his borrowers.  In an efficient market, therefore, the lender would provide a more competitive interest for those that automate using drones.  

#grownbydrone

#newhopecorp

#agrasphilippines