On September 1st, Binju Township officially launched its latest round of agricultural machinery purchase subsidies, coinciding with the comprehensive rollout of drone-based crop protection operations at the Wulongba white kidney bean demonstration base. These combined initiatives are bringing modern agricultural technology directly to the fields, with policy support and technological empowerment working in tandem to boost agricultural efficiency, increase farmer incomes, and inject strong momentum into rural vitalization.

Early in the morning, the courtyard of Binju Township's agricultural technology team was bustling with activity. Many farmers came specifically to inquire about and process agricultural machinery purchase subsidy applications, eager to capitalize on the favorable policy benefits. "This crop protection drone is highly sophisticated and quite expensive. Fortunately, the agricultural machinery purchase subsidy policy provided substantial financial relief, significantly reducing the financial burden of this purchase," one farmer who had just completed the subsidy procedures said excitedly, with joy evident in their eyes. To ensure the policy reaches all eligible farmers, Binju Township strictly implements the subsidy model of "independent purchase, post-purchase subsidy, fixed-amount subsidy, prefectural-level settlement, and direct payment to cards," streamlining procedures and minimizing the need for farmers to make multiple trips. This policy effectively lowers the barrier to acquiring new agricultural machinery, alleviates purchasing concerns, and brings modern farming equipment to ordinary fields. The widespread adoption of agricultural machinery has not only alleviated rural labor shortages and substantially reduced labor costs but has also achieved the dual benefits of "replacing manual labor with machines and increasing efficiency while reducing costs," providing continuous momentum for stable agricultural production, increased incomes, and rural revitalization.

While the subsidy program has fueled farmers' enthusiasm for acquiring new equipment, a practical demonstration of technology-assisted agriculture is underway in the highlands of Wulongba. Recently, a professional agricultural technology team, comprising experts from the Dali Prefecture Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Agricultural Technology Extension Station, Binchuan County's Planting Industry Development Service Center, and Binju Township's Comprehensive Agricultural Service Center, conducted large-scale drone-based crop protection operations at the Wulongba white kidney bean demonstration base. This initiative aims to protect the highland specialty industry through technological means. The drone operations covered a total area of 9,000 mu, including 4,000 mu of core demonstration area and radiating to 5,000 mu of surrounding planting areas, demonstrating extensive coverage and significant impact. Previously, white kidney bean cultivation in the Wulongba highlands relied primarily on manual labor, from ridging and mulching to staking and pest control—processes that were complex, time-consuming, and costly. Moreover, the highland slope terrain made manual pesticide application difficult, inefficient, and uneven, compromising treatment effectiveness and risking damage to the bean plants from trampling, severely constraining the industry's potential for quality improvement and income growth. The adoption of drone technology has fundamentally addressed these challenges. Compared to manual operations, drone-based crop protection offers uniform atomization, comprehensive coverage, and high operational efficiency, with daily output far exceeding manual capabilities. It also eliminates the issue of workers trampling plants, maximizes crop protection, and significantly reduces labor intensity and production costs. This intelligent aerial operation represents not only a technological upgrade for Binju Township's white kidney bean cultivation but also a vivid demonstration of technology empowering modern agriculture. Through precise and efficient technological management, pest control effectiveness is enhanced, ensuring healthy growth and robust yields of white kidney beans, making the highland "golden beans" more valuable and bolstering farmers' confidence in achieving prosperity.