22 Years Old, CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year, The First Ag Spray Drone Operator in Antigua & Michael Joseph Is Just Getting Started.

Michael Joseph started farming in Antigua in September 2019 — just weeks before Covid hit. He had no drone experience. During lockdown, he was scrolling YouTube and came across an ad for a DJI agricultural spray drone. It took him three years to save enough to buy one.In 2025, at 22 years old, he became the youngest person ever to win the CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year Award. He found out the week before the ceremony — just before his birthday. He got recognised at the supermarket, at the airport, and on a flight in Saint Kitts.His story is one of the most distinctly Caribbean drone journeys on this podcast: a solo operator running his own farm and a drone spray service for other Antiguan farmers, using 80% less chemical than a backpack sprayer, saving a papaya tree two days from being cut down with a couple of targeted spray applications, and now in discussions with US-based autonomous farming robotics companies about building a compact version of their technology scaled for small Caribbean farms.Contact Michael:LinkedInGet the Drone Pilot Checklist!The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: [email protected] our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*