This study aimed to provide agricultural drones to small-scale rice farming communities and assess their ability to manage and utilize these drones collaboratively without external support. Conducted in Paraguay in 2024, this research was part of the Korea Partnership for Innovation in Agriculture (KOPIA) project under the Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea. The target f armers w ere f rom six communities in t he I tapúa and Misiones d epartments t hat had adopted KOPIA's cultivation techniques to enhance rice productivity. In rice fields, drones are primarily utilized to spray pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, as well as to apply urea fertilizer. The shared use of drones was organized into two groups: one for the Itapúa Department and another for the Misiones Department, with each group receiving one drone. Community members shared the drones and collected per-hectare usage fees to cover pilot fees, drone repairs, and spare parts. From August 2024 to July 2025, during one rice season, the Itapúa Department group recorded 106 drone usage services, w hile the Misiones Department g roup had 1 18 services. In the Itapúa g roup, approximately 70.2% of the total funds collected were spent on shared drone use, with around 38.4% allocated for pilot fees. Sharing agricultural machinery could provide a viable solution, enabling tenant farmers to access essential equipment without the financial burden of ownership.

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS, RESULTS, AND DISCUSSION
    CASE STUDY REGIONS AND COMMUNITIES
    LISTENING TO FARMERS’ OPINIONS ONDRONE SHARING
    DRONE MODEL AND ACCESSORIES
    FOSTERING DRONE PILOTS
    SECRETARY APPOINTMENT AND BUDGETMANAGEMENT
    DRONE SERVICE COSTS AND SELF-HELPFUNDING
    DRONE SERVICE
    DRONE USE IN THE ITAPÚA AND MISIONESDEPARTMENTS
CONCLUSION
적 요
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
REFERENCES

• Betania Fernández(KOPIA Paraguay Center, Instituto Paraguayo de Tecnología Agraria-Centro De Investigación Hernando Bertoni Ruta 2, Mcal. Estigarribia km 48.5, Caacupé, Paraguay)
• Yessica Fischer(KOPIA Paraguay Center, Instituto Paraguayo de Tecnología Agraria-Centro De Investigación Hernando Bertoni Ruta 2, Mcal. Estigarribia km 48.5, Caacupé, Paraguay)
• Jenny Bareiro(KOPIA Paraguay Center, Instituto Paraguayo de Tecnología Agraria-Centro De Investigación Hernando Bertoni Ruta 2, Mcal. Estigarribia km 48.5, Caacupé, Paraguay)
• Bong Nam Chung(KOPIA Paraguay Center, Instituto Paraguayo de Tecnología Agraria-Centro De Investigación Hernando Bertoni Ruta 2, Mcal. Estigarribia km 48.5, Caacupé, Paraguay) | 정봉남 (KOPIA 파라과이 센터, Instituto Paraguayo de Tecnología Agraria-Centro De Investigación Hernando Bertoni Ruta 2, Mcal. Estigarribia km 48.5, Caacupé, 파라과이) Corresponding author
• Hugo Chaparro(Campo Experimental de Arroz – Instituto Paraguayo de Tecnología Agraria(IPTA)-Eusebio Ayala, Compañía Punta, Eusebio Ayala)