In the early 2000s Japan was the first country to use drones in the agricultural sector, but since then, technology has evolved. Agricultural drones help farmers in various ways to reduce cost and increase efficiency. Drones are used in almost every sector such as construction, media and entertainment, mining, delivery and logistics, real estate, environmental monitoring, etc. It is becoming increasingly popular in the agricultural sector due to its many advantages it offers to the farmers. The government of India has allocated a significant amount of 1.24 lakh crore rupees towards the agricultural sector. This showcases the shift towards modern and innovative farming practices by the farmers and government. Among various advancements across many sectors, drones are emerging as a game-changer. These aerial devices help significantly in reducing the burden by revolutionizing the farming practices.
Some of the Uses of Agricultural drones are:
Monitoring crop health with NDVI imaging:
- The agricultural drones are equipped with Normalised Difference vegetative Index (NDVI) imaging technology to keep a track of the health of their crops. This technology helps them to compare the crops to the standard level, thereby helping them with taking informed decisions regarding irrigation and pesticide needs.
- There are also specialised agricultural drones for detecting deficiencies in the crops. These devices help the farmers in detecting issues in the crop so that they can take measures to address the deficiencies in the early stage itself.
Improved irrigation management:
Agricultural drones play a crucial role in irrigation management by identifying the dry areas on the field and ensuring it receives adequate water. Agricultural drones help in targeted approach to optimize water usage and promote healthier crop growth
Seeding:
This is still a new feature or use added to the agriculture drone where it helps with planting seeds, thereby, decreases deforestation and increases the efficiency of the total surface area of the farm. This method in drones is mostly used in forestry industries. It helps in automated planting of seed in areas that are hard to reach without endangering its workers.
Security:
Agricultural drones not only help in farming practices, but also farm management. Using agricultural drones to monitor areas that are far to reach not only saves time but also keeps the farmer safe. The frequency of monitoring can be increased using drones. It also helps to keep an eye on livestock and decrease the tension of losing cattle from the herd when they are far off on the grazing fields.Agricultural drones also help in monitoring the injuries of the herd which significantly reduces the risk of losing cattle to unnoticed injuries.
Conclusion:
Agricultural drones have the power to transform the Indian agricultural sector. With continued support and efficient implementation, drones have the potential to reduce the burden off the farmers, decrease costs and promote sustainable practices. Agricultural drones can play a pivotal role in ensuring food security by significantly reducing wastage of resources and thereby improving the livelihood of farmers and people of India.
