Eight drone pilots and eight data analysts have completed an inaugural Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Drone and Geospatial Program after three months of intensive training. A graduation ceremony was held July 4, 2024 at the Department of Information Technology in the ‘A Piece of Europe’ building, Airport Industrial Park.
In attendance were Acting Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, the Hon. Leon Lundy and ministry officials. Facilitator of the training was Dr. Kim Baldwin of Marine Spatial Information Solutions Inc., based in Jamestown, Barbados.
Minister Lundy said that as a nation of 700 islands and cays, the government has the ‘monumental’ responsibility to monitor, maintain and manage the country’s land and ocean resources.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources is striving to use innovative technologies and methodologies to work together to safeguard our environment for future generations,” he said. ” Through the help of our international partners — the FAO and Marine Spatial Information Solutions — we are a step further in this mission.”
In March of this year, the FAO donated four drones to the Ministry, complete with a training component for the training of eight pilots and the Geospatial Mapping Analysis Software to support the implementation of a National Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Unit: a custom ‘participatory’ drone mapping and geospatial analysis training package.
With the drone technology in place, the country will be able to build capacity in agricultural, coastal, marine and disaster risk management applications.
“The drones donated to the country are equipped with specialized sensors, cameras and other technologies to monitor, assess and analyze the environment,” said Mr. Lundy.
Drone technology and the data it provides can take excellent aerial photographs and videos and accumulate large volumes of accurate data.
This compiled data is used to make critical, well-informed decisions related to disaster risk management, environmental resources management and development. Drones can also be used for the monitoring and surveillance of marine resources such as fish populations and observing illegal activities. Additionally, the drones will be able to provide valuable data for farmers to improve crop management.
The Minster also took the opportunity to announce the establishment of the Participatory Drone Mapping & Data Analytics Unit.
“Our newly trained and certified UAS Drone pilots and data analysts will present on what they have been able to achieve in the past three months of intensive training,” he said.
He said that the work of this unit, which comprises 16 persons, covered over 300 acres between two islands in 56 days. Through the use of drones, they performed a series of mapping, surveys, panoramic and data analyses of various sites of national interest.
“Through this unit, we will enhance our ability to protect and preserve the biodiversity of our lands and oceans and ensure sustainable practices.”
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