The trend of global integration is accelerating, and intelligent equipment has become a crucial element in the competition for national strength. Agriculture, as a vital sector, is also receiving strong support from governments worldwide. Therefore, there remains significant potential for growth in China's aerial crop protection industry. Recently, the development of plant protection drones has entered a period of policy-driven growth, with the "National Subsidy" initiative sending a positive signal to the market. It is anticipated that more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be deployed in agricultural fields in the coming years.
In recent years, as the development of plant protection drones has accelerated, their applications have expanded significantly. The industry has increasingly called for financial support, especially in the form of purchase subsidies. Now, with the "National Subsidy" policy entering its implementation phase, it is expected to drive a new wave of growth in the plant protection drone market, opening up broader opportunities for future development.
[Image: The country officially promoted the “national supplement†of plant protection drones, and the industry will usher in great development.]
Plant protection drones are UAVs designed for the spraying of pesticides, seeds, and other agricultural inputs in crops and forests. Although the industry has been growing rapidly, it is still in its early stages. According to data from the China Industrial Information Network, in 2015, the number of plant protection UAVs reached 2,324 across 31 provinces, covering a total area of 11.528 million mu. This marked a significant increase compared to 695 units and 4.26 million mu in 2014—representing a growth of 234% and 170.6%, respectively.
However, despite this growth, the proportion of plant protection drones in China’s overall UAV market remains below 1%. In contrast, the U.S. and Japan have achieved 50% and 54% penetration rates, respectively, while the global average stands at 17%, which is higher than China’s. This indicates a large untapped potential for expansion in the Chinese market.
The state officially launched the "National Subsidy" program to further unlock the potential of the plant protection drone market and accelerate the industry’s growth. In 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance, and the Civil Aviation Administration jointly issued a notice titled "Notice on Guiding the Pilot Application of Plant Protection Unmanned Aircraft under Agricultural Machinery Purchase Subsidies." The notice selected six provinces and cities—including Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, and Chongqing—to pilot the subsidy program for plant protection drones.
Under the policy, the pilot funds were allocated from the central government’s agricultural machinery purchase subsidy budget, with each province’s total controlled within 10 million yuan. The subsidy was targeted at agricultural production organizations engaged in plant protection operations, not individual buyers. Additionally, a fixed subsidy was introduced, with each unit receiving 30% of its average market price in 2017, capped at 30,000 yuan per unit. Drones used in the pilot programs had to be exclusively for agricultural use, and the subsidies were directly given to the purchasers.
Local provinces and cities have since accelerated the implementation of the subsidy program. For example, Chongqing recently announced that from October 30, 2017, to March 30, 2018, the city would introduce agricultural machinery purchase subsidies for plant protection drones. The target beneficiaries included farmers' cooperatives, plant protection companies, and pest control organizations. Single-rotor drones received a subsidy of 29,000 yuan, while multi-rotor models came with a 16,000 yuan subsidy.
Jiangxi also launched its own pilot plan, focusing on grain-producing counties and citrus-growing areas. The plan specified that only electric multi-rotor drones with a payload between 10L and 15L, and equipped with at least four batteries, would be eligible. Each unit received a 17,000 yuan subsidy, with a total fund of 10 million yuan allocated for the project.
As local governments continue to implement the "National Subsidy" policy, the plant protection drone market is expected to grow steadily, benefiting both consumers and businesses as costs continue to decline. While many provinces have yet to include drones in their subsidy programs, the active push from national policy suggests that the industry is on the verge of a major breakthrough.
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