India - Drone use for farming gets a big boost, to more than double by fiscal-end

By Sandip Das

With the government’s thrust on promoting drones for agricultural activities like crop mapping, analysis and application of nutrients and pesticides, manufacturers see an exponential increase in demand for these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the next couple of years.

In April, 2023, the agriculture ministry had released standard operating procedures (SOP) for the application of pesticides using drones for 10 crops including rice, wheat, cotton and maize. (Representational Image: Reuters)

According to industry estimates, while currently as many as 3,000 drones are being utilised in the agriculture sector, the number could rise to over 7,000 by the FY25 itself. This, analysts feel, would 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,″ Chirag Sharma, managing director, Drone Destination based in Gurgaon, which focusses on services and training of pilots operating these instruments. Stating that the company has trained 5000 drone pilots on the operational aspects, Sharma said there would be significant growth in services associated with drone operations and maintenance aspects.

″The drone will become more prominent with the government support by end of FY26, as it helps save 70% water usage and reduce 20%-30% on the fertilizer applications,″ Ramanathan Narayanan, ceo, Dhaksha Unmanned Systems Pvt Ltd., a Chennai-based drone manufacturer and subsidiary of fertiliser major Coromandel International told FE. Currently the cost of each drone is in the range of Rs 6 lakh-7 lakh.

With corresponding increase in usage of drones, RG Agarwal, chairman, Dhanuka Group, a crop protection major said ″the number of certified drone pilots have risen from 346 in 2022 to over 10,000 at present and this trend is expected to continue,″.

″Drones’ applications extend far beyond just spraying fertilizers and these UAV are helping crop management through field mapping, early detection of pests and diseases, and even soil analysis leading to increase in crop yield,″ Pradeep Palelli, ceo and co-founder, Thanos Technologies, a Hyderabad based drones manufacturers said. The company manufactured 250 drones last fiscal and has enhanced its annual production capacity to 3000 drones.

Last year, the government had approved a central sector scheme also referred as ‘drone didi’ for providing 15,000 drones to the women self-help groups (SHGs) in identified clusters, with an outlay of Rs. 1261 crore for the period from 2024-25 to 2025-26. The centre would provide 80% assistance for covering cost of the drones and accessories maximum upto Rs 8 lakh per SHG.

To promote usage of nano urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), leading fertiliser cooperative IFFCO in July, 2023 had announced procurement of 2500 drones to spray nano soil nutrients. The cooperative also stated that it is training 5000 rural entrepreneurs for the purpose. Usages of drones result in optimum usage of soil nutrients.

Several corporations including Syngenta India are promoting extensive usage of technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones to expand outreach amongst farmers of its crop protection products consisting of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.

In April, 2023, the agriculture ministry had released standard operating procedures (SOP) for the application of pesticides using drones for 10 crops including rice, wheat, cotton and maize.

Under the agricultural mechanisation sub-mission, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and state agriculture universities, as well as other state and central government agricultural institutes and undertakings engaged in agricultural activities are provided financial assistance at 100% of the drone cost, up to Rs 10 lakh per drone, besides contingent expenses for demonstration of drones in the farmers’ fields.

Farmer producer organisations (FPOs) are given grant-in-aid at the rate of 75% for the purchase of drones for a demonstration on farmers’ fields.