Agriculture has always been an important sector of India’s economy. India is a country where a majority of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. In recent times, agritech has revolutionized the agriculture sector, and the role of Agritech in improving Indian agriculture cannot be overstated. One of the technologies making the right noises in agriculture is drone technology. Drones have emerged as a new tool in modern farming. Drones have the potential to transform the agriculture sector in India. In this blog post, we will explore the potential of drones in Indian agriculture and the benefits they offer to farmers.
Applications of drones in Indian agriculture
The following are the major application areas for drones in Indian agriculture.
Soil and field analysis
Soil moisture, temperature, and nutrient levels are just some of the metrics that may be gathered by drones fitted with sensors. This information can be utilized to construct precise soil maps and zero in on problem regions. Drones can also be used to keep tabs on crops and identify issues before they become catastrophic. Agriculture drones can inspect the soil and the field itself to help in the process of field planning. Mounting sensors on them allows for the assessment of soil fertility, nitrogen levels, soil erosion, and moisture levels.
Plantation
Drones have the ability to plant seeds and saplings with great accuracy and efficiency, which can save farmers valuable time and effort, especially in large-scale farming. This is how agritech is enhancing seed performance in agriculture. Additionally, they can monitor crop growth and detect any areas that require extra attention. This technology can replace manual labor and reduce the use of harmful fuels in the agriculture industry, as budget-friendly drones are expected to replace large tractors in the near future.
Crop damage assessment
Crop damage from insects, disease, and extreme weather can be easily identified with the help of drones. Drones have found a useful application in agriculture, where they can take high-resolution pictures of crops and then use image analysis programs to spot damaged regions. Drones’ rapid and precise damage assessments aid farmers in making educated judgments and taking corrective measures.
As a result of early damage detection, farmers are able to take corrective measures to save their crops from further destruction. Methods like adjusting irrigation systems or rotating crops can help keep pests at bay. Drones also help farmers save money by lowering the amount of fertilizer and pesticides that need to be applied.
Livestock management
With drones, farmers can keep an eye on their cattle and quickly respond to any signs of illness. Drones can take high-resolution pictures that can then be examined by medical professionals using diagnostic software. Farmers can thus better protect their livestock from the spread of disease and preserve their animals’ health and well-being if they are able to detect problems early.
Drones can also be used to monitor animal movements, a task that can be tedious and time-consuming for farmers without the aid of a drone. Farmers can save time and money by utilizing drones to track their livestock’s whereabouts instead of physically checking on each animal.
Crop spraying
Crops can be sprayed with best quality insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers bought from the online marketplace for agriculture products such as BadiKheti using drones fitted with sprayers. Drones can be used for this task with greater accuracy and precision, reducing the number of chemicals required and the associated environmental impact.
There are many advantages to using drones to spray crops. As a first point, spraying crops with a drone is more time and effort effective than doing so by hand because it can cover a larger area. As an added bonus, they can apply chemicals more precisely because they can fly at lower altitudes, which results in better crop coverage and less chemical waste.
Moreover, farmers and employees are less likely to be exposed to toxic pesticides because drone spraying may be done remotely. Farmers can save time and effort by employing drones to spray only the areas that need it.
Locust swarm control with drones
Locust swarms have devastated Indian agriculture in recent years. Pesticide-spraying drones can control these swarms.
Drones can pinpoint locust swarms and apply pesticides at low altitudes. This approach controls locust swarms before they damage crops because it covers a bigger area faster than manual spraying.
Drones for locust swarm control are beneficial. First, it protects crops, saving farmers money. It utilizes fewer pesticides and decreases farmer exposure, making it environmentally beneficial.
Drones can also save farmers time and effort in locust monitoring. Farmers can swiftly and effectively mitigate locust swarm damage using this method.
Benefits of agri-drones in India
The following are the major benefits of using drones in Indian agriculture.
Better productivity
Drones can help farmers increase their crop yield by giving them important information about the health of the soil and crops. With this information, you can make smart choices about irrigation, fertilization, and other ways to take care of crops.
Enhanced safety
Farmers can benefit from drones since they can assist them in reducing the risk of injury when working in hazardous or inaccessible regions. Drones, for instance, can be used to spray pesticides in inaccessible or otherwise dangerous regions, saving human workers from harm.
Settling insurance claims
Drones can help with crop insurance claims by providing crucial data in the event of crop damage. This information can be used to calculate fair compensation for affected farmers.
Less wastage of resources
The use of drones can assist in cutting down on the number of resources that are wasted, including water, fertilizer, and pesticides. Farmers are able to make better use of these resources by applying the data obtained by drones, which results in less waste and more financial savings.
Future of drones in Indian agriculture
While the application of drones in Indian agriculture is just getting started, the possibilities are enormous. Drones with sensors and artificial intelligence will become more common in the future. Insights into soil and crop health can be gathered with greater precision with these drones. Drones, which can increase production and decrease labor costs, are also likely to become increasingly popular in Indian farming.
