TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund held a closing ceremony Wednesday for its agricultural drone training program at the Taipei Garden Hotel, recognizing participants’ achievements and underscoring Taiwan’s global collaboration in agricultural development.
Attendees included officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation Administration; representatives from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts and Nevis; Taiwan Formosa Drone Association Chair Sikorsky Chang (張政雄); and 7A Drones Academy Training Project Manager Yu Shu-ju (游淑如).
The program, hosted in collaboration with Chiayi-based 7A Drones, offered courses on drone flight regulations, pest and disease identification, pesticide and fertilizer applications, UAV maintenance, and crop protection techniques. Nearly 20 participants from 10 countries—including Chile, Paraguay, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, and Colombia—took part.
Participants from Latin America expressed gratitude, saying they expected drones to enhance farming operations, reduce labor costs, minimize chemical residues, and strengthen disaster response capabilities. They noted that underdeveloped UAV regulations and limited financial resources remain challenges in the region.
Representatives from Brazil and Paraguay praised the program’s practical focus, saying they plan to use drones to monitor crop pests and diseases, cut costs, and assess storm-related crop damage. They highlighted the suitability of small and medium-sized UAVs for their agricultural needs.
Participants from Mexico shared new applications of drones in spraying, crop monitoring, and damage assessment. They also commended Taiwanese UAV companies for their R&D in sensors, rotors, and valves, and expressed hope for greater collaboration with Taiwan, including regulatory guidance for drone adoption in South America.
At the ceremony, Taiwan ICDF Deputy Secretary General Stephen Lee (李志宏) awarded drone operation certificates. 7A Drones also showcased drone soccer and small-sized UAV models, with some trainees trying the sport.
Lee said the program is part of MOFA’s Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, aimed at strengthening Taiwan’s global engagement through technical cooperation. He praised participants for their determination in completing training under Taiwan’s summer heat and expressed hope the skills would support sustainable agriculture in their countries.
Chen Kuen-pu (陳昆甫), consul general on home assignment from MOFA’s Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Department, said climate change has made applying technology to farming critical. He emphasized drones help lower costs and reduce farmers’ exposure to pesticides.
Andres Cabrera Orozco, an associate professor at the National University of Colombia, said the training deepened his understanding of Taiwan’s culture, history, and technology. He thanked Taiwan ICDF and 7A Drones for promoting drone adoption and noted drones can help address labor shortages in aging farming communities, with Taiwan’s collaboration accelerating smart agriculture across Latin America.
