By XU Nuo | AOPA-China | 2024-11-28

Nujiang, China, 28 November, 2024— AOPA-China has successfully completed a ten-day drone transport initiative in Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, aimed at improving logistics for farmers during the peak harvest season of cao guo (a medicinal and culinary crop).

The project, part of AOPA-China’s broader efforts to advance low-altitude economy applications, deployed five heavy-lift drones in Fugong County to support over 1,500 farming households. The largest drone, with a payload of 240 kg and capable of operating at 3,500 meters altitude, enabled efficient transport from mountainous growing areas that are otherwise difficult to access.

Fugong County produces a quarter of the national cao guo supply, making efficient logistics vital for rural income. This operation not only reduced transportation costs for local farmers but also provided a valuable model for integrating drone logistics in high-altitude, hard-to-reach regions.

Building on the lessons learned, AOPA-China plans to expand the use of unmanned aerial systems in agricultural transport across Nujiang, helping local communities benefit from the emerging low-altitude economy through sustainable and scalable solutions.

AOPA-China Executive Secretary-General Jiang Mouyu Discusses Sustainable Drone Transport Supporting Rural Livelihoods in Nujiang on National Television