Why DJI?

Why DJI for Agriculture?

On the surface, the plethora of sprayer drones on Alibaba would suggest that it’s a commoditized market.  But there’s a clear pattern here:  E Pluribus Unum.  Out of many, the DJI stands alone to command a premium price. 

To most people in agriculture, the DJI name hardly resonates unlike in videography where it is ubiquitous.  Nevertheless, having credibility with Hollywood videographers does not translate into a good product in agriculture. 

That’s until I found they practically invented the drone spray market, releasing the first commercial spray drone (non-DIY) in 2015.  The genesis of the Agras MG-1 has such a big impact in agriculture and most in this sector have yet to realize it.  

Since the invention of planes, aerial spray was only possible for large farms with hundreds of hectares.  In Asia where the average plot is less than 2 hectares, aerial spray application was never a viable option. 

Yet crediting DJI for democratizing drone spray doesn’t necessarily mean they make a good product. 

But they do. 

For one thing, DJI is one of a handful of drone manufacturers that develop by hardware and software, developing a product end-to-end.  That is brought to bear when you unbox a DJI drone and feel in full control of the aircraft.  No weird twitching, no shaking, no weird noises.  Their drones fly with a similar cockpit controls and an unmistakable feel that is DJI.  

Here to fore, the digitalization of agriculture is a new age commonly referred to as agriculture 4.0.  From this vantage point, there are at least 4 disparate technologies that will converge in the future:  spray, multispectral imaging, aerial mapping, and crop health analytics.

Convergence is inevitable because it is onerous to expect the farmer to buy multiple drones to achieve the benefits of smart farming. Your smartphone is the convergence of the apps you enjoy within.  

DJI, in my opinion, seems uniquely positioned to lead innovation because all the other technologies involve imaging—that is DJI core competency.  Catching up won’t be easy.  With each flight, the DJI cloud grows ever richer, giving developers visibility into various conditions and applications. 

It is for this reason that New Hope only distributes the DJI Agras product line.  I tell our customers part of the price tag is for innovation and their participation insures that they will we will present them with product offerings that will push the boundaries of innovation.  

That’s what happened when DJI released the Spreader last year, an HUGE innovation I cannot understate (https://agrasphilippines.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-spreader.html).  Our Agras customers benefit from being first to seize this space. 

E Pluribus Unum. 

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