The cinnamon harvest is underway in the Jiangbei area of Gaoyao District, Zhaoqing, where drones are helping farmers tackle a long-standing transport challenge.
For generations, harvesting cinnamon bark in the region's steep mountains meant hauling heavy loads down narrow, difficult paths. The trip often took more than an hour. Today, that "last mile" has been transformed. In Shuangjiao Village, Lecheng Town, drones can carry up to 35 kilograms of cinnamon bark at a time, flying over rugged terrain and delivering the harvest from remote valleys to collection points at the foot of the hills within minutes.
Mountain roads built in recent years have improved access to plantations. However, moving goods from high elevations or deep ravines to the roadside still requires hard and risky manual labor. Since last year, local authorities have deployed professional drone teams to provide free aerial transport for farmers, focusing on the most difficult sections of the route. So far, more than 30 metric tons of cinnamon bark have been transported by drone. Authorities have also guided buyers to purchase directly at production sites, streamlining both transport and sales.
This integrated approach, covering harvesting, transport, and sales, has reduced workloads, improved safety, and boosted farmers' incomes.
Author | He Fengyu
Photo | Zhaoqing Fabu
