Bharat has moved with purpose in spread of drones to revolutionize her huge farm sector that’s key to self-sufficiency model, feed 1.4 billion people and provide agriculture products and services globally.
Having adopted drones consciously over last one decade, these flying objects mark significant advancement in agricultural output and modernizing farming processes. This creative plan is a big step towards using modern technology to solve long-standing issues in the agriculture sector that’s integral to Bharat’s way of life.
Conventional agricultural spraying techniques that rely on physical labour or heavy gear lifting are time-consuming and less accurate in providing farm nutrients, soil supplements and water apart from spray of pesticides etc.
Indian government has adopted use of drones in agriculture and related services to transform crop management and protection in light of constraints associated with physical handling of farm nutrients and pesticides.
Modern spraying technology is being used on drones to cover huge tracts of fields with previously unheard-of precision and speed. These unmanned aerial vehicles are gradually taking the place of the labour-intensive and ineffective hand spraying method.
Capacity of drone sprayers to reach difficult-to-get locations such as steep terrain or heavily forested areas, which are difficult for traditional machinery or labour is one of its main advantages. These drones provide optimal resource utilization and minimize waste by accurately targeting crops with necessary nutrients, herbicides or insecticides. This promotes sustainable farming practices.
These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) outfitted with cutting-edge sensors and GPS technology can apply pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers with unmatched precision and speed as well. Farmers can target particular portions of their fields with drone sprayers, minimizing resource waste and lessening environmental effect. Furthermore, farmers may concentrate on other key facets of agriculture because of the effectiveness of drone operations, which saves them a significant amount of labour and time.
The drone sprayer plan has been widely praised for its potential to take Bharat’s agriculture to next level. Farmers that use this technique can increase crop yields, maximise resource usage and help improve their standard of living. Drone usage also supports India’s commitment to sustainable agriculture which lessens negative consequences of conventional farming methods while boosting eco-friendly solutions.
Use of drone sprayers is expected to help millions of Indian farmers with a number of urgent problems. The advantages are numerous, ranging from lowering danger of chemical exposure for workers to minimizing environmental contamination brought on by overuse of pesticides. Furthermore, farmers benefit greatly from the increased efficiency that drones provide in terms of cost savings which eventually strengthens their financial security.
Nonetheless, there are certain drawbacks to drone technology’s broad use in agriculture. Concerns including licensing processes, legal frameworks and cost must be addressed to guarantee easy integration and accessibility for farmers from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds.
Policymakers, technology companies and other agricultural stakeholders must work together to tackle these challenges. The broad use of drone sprayers can be facilitated by cooperative projects that provide financial support, training and awareness-raising which could spark a paradigm shift in Indian agriculture. Most stakeholders in the farm sector will have to work in unison to adopt drones like other technologies.
With the drone sprayer plan, Bharat is demonstrating its commitment to using innovations for sustainable development as it sets off on this revolutionary journey. In several other sectors as well, drones are being increasingly deployed to deliver pharmaceutical products and tackle life threatening emergency situations.
India is positioned to usher in a new era of agricultural prosperity by embracing technology-driven solutions, empowering farmers, and promoting economic growth while protecting the environment for future generations.
Drones for farm development
Thanks to development of drone technology, India’s agriculture sector has undergone a spectacular revolution in recent years. These unmanned aerial vehicles are strong instruments that are changing how farmers manage their crops and nurture their land; they are not just futuristic gadgets.
Drones have made a major contribution to Indian agriculture in the form of crop monitoring and management. Drones with cutting-edge cameras and sensors fly over huge stretches of farmland, taking high-resolution pictures that provide vital information on crop health, insect infestations, and soil conditions. With the use of this real-time data, farmers are better equipped to optimize their techniques for fertilization, irrigation, and pest management, which ultimately increases yields and minimises resource waste.
Drone technology is also revolutionising farming techniques nationwide with precision agriculture. Drones optimise production by precisely directing inputs such as insecticides, fertilisers, and water, hence reducing waste and negative environmental effects. This accuracy is crucial for maintaining sustainable farming techniques for future generations in a nation where agricultural resources are becoming scarce.
Drones are also excellent at large-scale mapping and surveying, giving farmers access to precise land-use surveys and maps. Better land management, crop selection and resource allocation are made possible by this capacity, which is especially important in India’s several agro-climatic zones where soil conditions vary greatly.
Drones have advantages over traditional farming methods. Drones prove to be invaluable in hard-to-reach areas where conventional machinery is unable to operate. These flying marvels bridge the gap between farmers and their fields with their unprecedented efficiency and accessibility, whether they are monitoring crops or delivering necessary supplies.
Drones are also essential for disaster management since they can quickly assess crop damage following natural disasters like floods or droughts. Drones minimize losses and aid recovery process by facilitating rapid response measures through the provision of precise and timely information.
Overall, drone technology has the potential to revolutionize agriculture in Bharat by providing innovative solutions to challenges faced by farmers and enhancing efficiency and sustainability of agricultural practices. However, coordinated efforts are required to guarantee affordability, accessibility and appropriate legal frameworks in order to fully reap its benefits. Drone technology has the potential to take Indian agriculture to new heights of wealth and sustainability if given the proper backing and funding.
Drone Didis to helm farm reforms
Under the ‘Namo Drone Didis’ scheme announced by Bharat’s government on November 30, women in 15,000 self-help groups would be trained and supported to handle these unmanned aerial vehicles. In several states, training of these drone didis began in right earnest. Many of these rural women across states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh will display their skills to spray nano-fertilizers, farm nutrients, herbicides and pesticides on their farm fields ahead of this year’s international women’s day.
From tackling erratic weather patterns to depleting land resources, 140 drone didis across states will display their skills to manage their agriculture lands differently.
Many of these drone didis may not have even taken a ride on bicycles or gone through formal schooling. But, intensive training of these women has turned them into drone warriors that seek to bring about a change in farm sector.
Apart from reforming farm sector, drones have brought in a sense of empowerment for these rural women. As per publicly available data, these women can spray nano-fertilizers on one hectare in flat seven minutes thereby conserving a lot of human resources as well.
This has also led to a host of start-ups springing up in drones sector that has not seen so much activity in recent times. It’s not just the grandiose scheme that’s been designed to empower women in hinterlands. In the interim budget unveiled by finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman on February 1, Rs 500 crore has been set aside for Namo Drone Didis scheme for training, skilling and supply of drones. This fund will act as corpus for the entire scheme to take off. In the previous financial year, Rs 200 crore was set aside for the signature scheme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project has led to evolution of an entire ecosystem for drones from infrastructure, training, maintenance services to renting and leasing operations.
Apart from their technological prowess, the Drone Didis would help tackle labour scarcity which is increasingly becoming a worry in numerous farming areas. They lighten farmers’ workloads and free them up to concentrate on more strategically important parts of farm management by automating repetitive operations and decreasing the need for physical labour.
Introduction of first batch 140 Drone Didis into the agricultural sector signifies a paradigm change in favour of more intelligent and sustainable farming methods.
Farmers around the world are benefiting from their increased efficiency, production, and profitability due to their capacity to accurately apply inputs, monitor crops, and optimise resource management.
Drone Didis are set to play an increasingly significant part in agriculture as technology advances, offering farming communities around the world hope for a more profitable and optimistic future.
CIHS - Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies 