Drones give Chongqing's mountain farming a lift

In Chongqing, farming has always meant working against the landscape. More than 70% of the municipality's land is made up of hills and mountains, where small, scattered plots are tucked between slopes, gullies and winding rural roads. Locals sometimes joke that the fields are as tiny as "palms" or "chicken nests."

Now, drones are helping make this tough terrain easier to farm.

During the spring planting season, agricultural drones are flying over mountain fields to spread fertilizer, spray pesticides and sow rice seeds. These non-piloted flying machines are taking over some of the most tiring and repetitive jobs, reducing the need for farmers to climb up and down slopes carrying heavy equipment.

The efficiency gains are clear. According to Jiang Lixiang, technical director of Chongqing Tianzhongyang Agricultural Technology Cooperative, one drone can fertilize about 300 mu, or 20 hectares, in a single day. That matches what 10 farmers could complete in about one week by hand.

Beyond fertilizing and spraying, drones are also being used for more precise farm management. With cameras and sensors, they can help monitor crop growth, spot pests, support targeted weeding, and inspect irrigation channels, rural roads and other farming infrastructure after heavy rain or extreme weather.

For Chongqing's mountain agriculture, drones are no longer just machines in the sky. They are practical tools helping farmers save labor, cut costs and bring modern farming to hard-to-reach fields.

(Cover: Technicians use a drone to inspect power lines, helping ensure a stable electricity supply for local residents during the spring farming season, Chongqing, China, March 11, 2026. /VCG)