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Drone Application in Agriculture
Context:
Farmers in Punjab have begun using drones to spray pesticides on crops like maize and moong. Under the Centre’s ‘NAMO Drone Didi’ scheme, 93 out of 100 drones provided by IFFCO are now operational.
About drone technology in Agriculture:
- Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), when equipped with advanced sensors like spectral cameras, thermal imaging units, and LiDAR systems.
- Can enable drones to gather detailed and intricate data about crops and fields, providing valuable insights for precision agriculture.
- Some leading drone companies and startups in India providing agriculture solutions include Aarav Unmanned Systems, Skylark Drones, SenseHawk, Agritech, and Garuda Aerospace.
How Drones Can Revolutionise Pesticide and Fertilizer Application
- Protecting Farmers’ Health
- Eliminates manual application → Reduces exposure to harmful chemicals → Lowers health risks (cancer, etc.)
- Efficient Application
- Uniform, precise spraying → Higher crop yields → Facilitates use of nano fertilisers.
- Crop Monitoring & Emergency Response
- Real-time health monitoring → Rapid pest infestation response (e.g., pink bollworm, locusts).
- Environmental Benefits
- Reduces nutrient runoff → Minimises soil/water pollution → Cuts water usage by 90%.
- Innovative Uses
- Projects like “seed ball” bombing → Supports reforestation efforts.
Government Initiatives
- Production linked incentive (PLI) scheme: This scheme offers a considerable financial push of Rs. 120 crore to incentivise domestic drone manufacturing and reduce import reliance.
- Sub-mission on agricultural mechanisation (SMAM): This initiative provides financial aid to farmers who purchase drones, making this technology more accessible.
- Kisan drone scheme: Over 240 subsidised Kisan drones have been provided to farmers, and plans are underway to set up more than 1,500 Kisan drone community health centres (CHCs).
Global success stories in drone-powered agriculture
The following are some encouraging cases from different parts of the world.
- Boosted Irrigation in California: Farmers in California’s Central Valley use drones with imaging cameras to measure soil moisture levels, enabling more precise irrigation and significant water savings.
- Increasing Yields in Japan: Japanese rice farmers employ drones for early disease detection and precise fertiliser application, leading to higher yields and better rice quality.
- Namo Drone Didi Scheme: It focuses on empowering women to play a central role in their local farming supply chains and enhance rural prosperity.
- Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship
- Drone shakti scheme: It supports startups in leveraging drone technology across sectors.
- Streamlining regulations and infrastructure
- The drone rules, 2021: These regulations streamline procedures and foster a favourable environment for stakeholders throughout the drone industry.
- Encouraging local manufacturing
- Restrictions on drone imports: Strategic limitations on drone imports, with exceptions for specific categories, encourage domestic manufacturing and bolster India’s self-reliance in this sector.
Key Initiatives for Promoting Technology in Agriculture
- Digital Agriculture Mission 2021-2025
- Launched in September 2021, focuses on digital agriculture through collaborations with companies like Cisco and Jio Platforms.
- Cisco created an Agricultural Digital Infrastructure (ADI) solution to improve farming and knowledge exchange. This played an essential role in the data pool that the Department of Agriculture developed under the National Agri Stack.
- The Jio Agri (Jio Krishi) platform was introduced in February 2020, and it digitised the agricultural ecosystem along the entire value chain to empower farmers.
- Sensor-based Smart Agriculture (SENSAGRI) Program
- The primary goal is to create a native prototype for a drone-based crop and soil health monitoring system utilising hyperspectral remote sensing (HRS) sensors.
- This technology can also be combined with satellite-based systems for broader, large-scale applications.
- Development of “Agristack”
- Creating a unified database of agricultural datasets linked to farmers.
- Digital Soil Health Cards: Digitally maps soil composition to promote precision farming.
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has launched its ‘One Scientist-One Product’ program to enhance research in agriculture and animal husbandry.
Challenges:
- A major concern with drone adoption is the potential displacement of jobs traditionally held by labourers, as drones are both more efficient and cost-effective.
- Drones cost approximately Rs 200 per acre for coverage, while labour costs are around Rs 300 per acre, making drones a cheaper alternative.
- Moreover, pilots require training not only to operate drones but also to effectively cover entire fields when applying fertilisers and pesticides.
Adoption of Technology in Agriculture 4.0
- IoT: Surveillance with sensors (light, humidity, temperature), automating irrigation.
- Precision Farming: Big Data Analytics and Robotics for crop management.
- Data Analytics: Optimising smart farming through IoT sensor data.
- Nanotechnology: Nano tools (fertilisers, pesticides) for improved yields and quality.
- Telematics: Machine communication for precision-sowing and effective farming.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Autonomous Robots: Crop and soil monitoring with AI and machine learning.
- Big Data
- Predictive Modelling: Used in crop insurance for actionable solutions.
- Blockchain
- Supply Chain Transparency: Decentralised ledger for agricultural information, traceability.
