Drones Over Fields: UP Launches High-Tech Crop Protection in Six Districts

The Uttar Pradesh government has rolled out a drone-based crop protection initiative across six districts, marking a major step toward modernizing agriculture and improving farm productivity. As part of a pilot project, drones are now being used to spray nano urea and pesticides in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Bahraich, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad, and Kanpur Nagar.

Key Highlights:

- Coverage: Each drone can spray across 3 to 12 acres per hour, significantly reducing labor and time.
- Technology Backbone: Implemented under the Atmanirbhar Krishak Samanvit Vikas Yojana and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
- Objective: To boost crop yields, reduce input costs, and ensure timely pest control using precision agriculture.
- Training Push: Farmers are being trained to operate drones and adopt modern farming practices, ensuring smooth integration of the technology.
- Project Scale: Nine drone projects have been launched so far—two each in Gorakhpur, Bahraich, and Muzaffarnagar, and one each in the remaining districts.
- Future Plans: The government aims to expand the initiative to more districts, reinforcing its commitment to tech-driven farming.

Officials say the drones not only improve efficiency but also help monitor crop health more accurately. With this move, Uttar Pradesh is positioning itself as a leader in smart agriculture, aiming to double farmer incomes and reduce environmental impact through targeted spraying.

Sources: Rediff Money, The Statesman, Times of India