Fields of the Future: 2 Lakh Acres to Get a High-Tech Drone Makeover

Image Source: Tractor

In a daring initiative to rationalize farming and enhance crop yields, district officials have inaugurated a high-profile drive to introduce drone technology to 2 lakh acres of agricultural land. The drive, led by the district Collector, focuses on turning over almost 2 lakh acres of presently lying vacant or mono-cropped land by deploying cutting-edge drone-based solutions for sowing, pesticide spraying, and fertilizing.

Highlights of this initiative are:

Large-Scale Adoption: The Collector has urged concerted efforts to bring previously unused land under cultivation with the help of drones, emphasizing diversification of crops and increasing yields.
Farmer-Friendly Subsidies: The government has raised subsidies for farm drones considerably-now up to 80%-while the balance 20% can be funded through bank loans. This renders drone purchase much more accessible to small and marginal farmers.
Simplified Training & Access: The eligibility for training as a drone pilot has been opened up, and anyone with an Intermediate qualification is now allowed to apply. Five members from farm families can now get incentives and training, democratizing access to this technology.
Efficiency & Cost Savings: It costs just ₹400 to spray pesticides over an acre with the help of a drone, against ₹1,500 in the conventional way. With the capability to fly up to 10 acres a day, drones promise tremendous time and labor savings.
Broader Partnerships: Major agri-companies such as Coromandel International and Mahindra & Mahindra are taking drone spraying services wider, offering them through easy-to-use apps and pay-per-acre schemes. These partnerships are likely to make farming more efficient, lower input costs, and raise farmer revenues.

With pilot projects already in progress and scores of teams trained, this program is set to become a standard for technology-enabled, sustainable agriculture-enabling farmers and paving the way for a new era of intelligent farming.

Sources: The Hans India, The Hindu Business Line, Economic Times Auto