Question
Eyes in the sky: drones could cut cost of farming.
New Britian Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL) is making strides in the area of ‘precision agriculture’ in the country. Its experience provides pointers for other agribusiness looking to gain a better control of their costs. PNG’s challenging terrain means many farmers are flying blind when it comes to accurate data about their crops but new drone technologies can offer great advantages. NBPOL is PNG’s largest agricultural operator. At the of 2018, the company had 11.36 million oil palms in PNG and the Solomon Islands. Will Unswroth, Group TSD (Technology and Sustainable Development) Manager at NBPOL, says the company is aiming, with its aerial surveys of its operations, to achieve ‘precision agriculture. This new method uses aerial technology to fully understand the business’s inputs, such as how much fertilizer it uses. In 2018, he says the company used 50,100 tons of fertilizer, costing US$20 million (K68 million). ‘Excess is a waste; inadequate input is a loss. Precision avoids waste while maximizing outputs,’ he notes.
‘After plenty of research and development, the company now has more accurate data than ever about how many oil palms it has and their distribution.’ ‘If fertilizer is over ordered, there are storage costs, more double handling and losses form spoilage and theft, ‘he says. ‘If fertilizer is under-ordered, palms are under-ordered, palms are under-fed, their yield falls, and there is a need to make additional orders, which can be costly.’ The company decide to better plan its use of fertilizer using drone technology. Remote controlled drones are being used to generate aerial imagery of NBPOL’s plantations and to count in-field oil palms. From that, it is possible to generate an accurate ‘palm stand census’ to ensure that the correct fertile volumes are orders. After plenty of research and development, the company now has more accurate data than ever about how many oil palm s it has and their distribution. This data is shared using file sharing and converted into Google Earth for ease of access. The project remains a work-in-progress. Unsworth say next step is to make further use of the data for surface modelling to improve water management and track the nutrient status of the oil palms form year-to-year.
14. b. List three data variables necessary to meet both operational and strategic business requirement of NBPOL?
c. How did NBPLO achieve operational efficiency as argued by proponent of Scientific Management Theory? Describe one as evident in this new article.
e. Name two other cost-effective technologies (apart from drones) could potentially be used by NBPOL?
New Britian Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL) is making strides in the area of ‘precision agriculture’ in the country. Its experience provides pointers for other agribusiness looking to gain a better control of their costs. PNG’s challenging terrain means many farmers are flying blind when it comes to accurate data about their crops but new drone technologies can offer great advantages. NBPOL is PNG’s largest agricultural operator. At the of 2018, the company had 11.36 million oil palms in PNG and the Solomon Islands. Will Unswroth, Group TSD (Technology and Sustainable Development) Manager at NBPOL, says the company is aiming, with its aerial surveys of its operations, to achieve ‘precision agriculture. This new method uses aerial technology to fully understand the business’s inputs, such as how much fertilizer it uses. In 2018, he says the company used 50,100 tons of fertilizer, costing US$20 million (K68 million). ‘Excess is a waste; inadequate input is a loss. Precision avoids waste while maximizing outputs,’ he notes.
‘After plenty of research and development, the company now has more accurate data than ever about how many oil palms it has and their distribution.’ ‘If fertilizer is over ordered, there are storage costs, more double handling and losses form spoilage and theft, ‘he says. ‘If fertilizer is under-ordered, palms are under-ordered, palms are under-fed, their yield falls, and there is a need to make additional orders, which can be costly.’ The company decide to better plan its use of fertilizer using drone technology. Remote controlled drones are being used to generate aerial imagery of NBPOL’s plantations and to count in-field oil palms. From that, it is possible to generate an accurate ‘palm stand census’ to ensure that the correct fertile volumes are orders. After plenty of research and development, the company now has more accurate data than ever about how many oil palm s it has and their distribution. This data is shared using file sharing and converted into Google Earth for ease of access. The project remains a work-in-progress. Unsworth say next step is to make further use of the data for surface modelling to improve water management and track the nutrient status of the oil palms form year-to-year.
14. b. List three data variables necessary to meet both operational and strategic business requirement of NBPOL?
c. How did NBPLO achieve operational efficiency as argued by proponent of Scientific Management Theory? Describe one as evident in this new article.
e. Name two other cost-effective technologies (apart from drones) could potentially be used by NBPOL?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### 14. b. Three Data Variables Necessary for NBPOL:
1. **Fertilizer Usage Data**: This includes the quantities and types of fertilizers applied, which is essential for optimizing input levels to avoid waste while maximizing yield.
2. **Palm Tree Inventory and Distribution**: Accurate counts and locations of the oil palms are critical for effective planning of resource allocation, ensuring that the company orders the appropriate amount of fertilizers and manages its plantations efficiently.
3. **Yield Data**: Information regarding the yield produced per hectare or per oil palm provides insights into the effects of different management practices and helps guide future farming decisions based on performance trends.
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### 14. c. Achieving Operational Efficiency through Scientific Management Theory:
One way NBPOL achieved operational efficiency, in line with Scientific Management Theory, is through **data-driven decision-making** facilitated by the use of drone technology. By implementing aerial surveys to gather precise data about palm tree counts and fertilizer needs, NBPOL minimizes both overuse and underuse of resources, resulting in a more efficient operation. This aligns with the principles of scientific management, which emphasize optimizing processes, reducing waste, and ensuring that resources are utilized effectively.
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### 14. e. Two Other Cost-Effective Technologies:
1. **Soil Sensors**: Utilizing IoT-based soil sensors can help monitor moisture levels, nutrient content, and pH levels in real-time. This allows for targeted irrigation and fertilization, contributing to improved crop yields while reducing input costs.
2. **Satellite Imagery**: This technology offers a broader view than drones and can be used to monitor crop health, assess land use, and detect pests or diseases over large areas. This information is invaluable for making informed agricultural decisions and managing crops more efficiently.
1. **Fertilizer Usage Data**: This includes the quantities and types of fertilizers applied, which is essential for optimizing input levels to avoid waste while maximizing yield.
2. **Palm Tree Inventory and Distribution**: Accurate counts and locations of the oil palms are critical for effective planning of resource allocation, ensuring that the company orders the appropriate amount of fertilizers and manages its plantations efficiently.
3. **Yield Data**: Information regarding the yield produced per hectare or per oil palm provides insights into the effects of different management practices and helps guide future farming decisions based on performance trends.
---
### 14. c. Achieving Operational Efficiency through Scientific Management Theory:
One way NBPOL achieved operational efficiency, in line with Scientific Management Theory, is through **data-driven decision-making** facilitated by the use of drone technology. By implementing aerial surveys to gather precise data about palm tree counts and fertilizer needs, NBPOL minimizes both overuse and underuse of resources, resulting in a more efficient operation. This aligns with the principles of scientific management, which emphasize optimizing processes, reducing waste, and ensuring that resources are utilized effectively.
---
### 14. e. Two Other Cost-Effective Technologies:
1. **Soil Sensors**: Utilizing IoT-based soil sensors can help monitor moisture levels, nutrient content, and pH levels in real-time. This allows for targeted irrigation and fertilization, contributing to improved crop yields while reducing input costs.
2. **Satellite Imagery**: This technology offers a broader view than drones and can be used to monitor crop health, assess land use, and detect pests or diseases over large areas. This information is invaluable for making informed agricultural decisions and managing crops more efficiently.