According to industry estimates, the government’s push for pro
moving drones for agricultural activities like crop mapping, analysis, and application of nutrients and pesticides, and a significant rise in demand for these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is expected in the next couple of years.
While 3,000 drones are utilised in agriculture, the number could rise to over 7,000 by FY25. This is expected to help boost crop productivity significantly through optimum use of water, soil nutrients and crop protection formulations.
“The number of drones in operations could grow to 10,000-15,000 in the next couple of years with rapid adoption in the agriculture sector,” said Chirag Sharma, managing director of Drone Destination based in Gurgaon.
Drone use will become more prominent with government support by the end of FY 26, as it helps save 70% of water usage and reduce 20-30% on fertiliser-fertiliser applications.
Last year, the government approved the ‘drone didi’ scheme for providing 15,000 drones to the women self-help groups (SHGs) in identified clusters, with an outlay of ₹1,261 crore from FY25 to FY 26. The Centre would provide 80% assistance to cover the cost of the drones and accessories up to a maximum of ₹8 lakh per SHG.
Several corporations, including Syngenta India, are promoting extensive usage of technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones to expand outreach among farmers regarding its crop protection products, which consist of insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides.
In April 2023, the agriculture ministry released standard operating procedures (SOPs) for applying pesticides using drones for 10 crops, including rice, wheat, cotton and maisemaise.
Benefits of using drones in agriculture
- Increased crop yields
- Reduced water usage
- Reduced fertiliser-fertiliser application
- Early detection of pests and diseases
- Improved crop management
Challenges of using drones in agriculture
- Cost of drones
- Training required to operate drones
- Regulations on drone use
Overall, the use of drones in agriculture is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. This is due to the government’s support for drone use and the many benefits that drones can offer farmers. However, some challenges, such as the cost of drones and the training required to operate them, need to be addressed.
Sources news.agropages.com/