Key applications of agricultural drones
Agricultural drones provide rapid, targeted solutions for complex field tasks.
Primary applications include:
- Precision foliar spraying: Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) atomizing nozzles apply nano-urea, bio-pesticides, and micronutrients uniformly across tall crops like sugarcane and cotton.
- Multispectral crop health monitoring: Cameras detect vegetative indices (NDVI), nitrogen stress, and early pest infestations before symptoms appear to the naked eye.
- Seed broadcasting and reforestation: Specialized payload hoppers scatter pelleted seeds over wetlands and difficult terrain.
- Damage assessment: Facilitates geotagged aerial surveys for prompt PMFBY crop insurance loss assessments.
Standard operating procedures and CIBRC safety rules
Drone spraying in India is governed by strict statutory protocols formulated by the DGCA and CIBRC.
Operational mandates:
- Pilots must hold a valid Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) issued by a DGCA-authorized Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO).
- Only CIBRC-approved pesticide and fertilizer formulations labeled for drone application may be sprayed.
- Maintain a minimum 50-metre buffer distance from water bodies, residential clusters, and grazing animals.
- Do not fly under wind speeds exceeding 15 km/h to prevent spray drift onto non-target crops.
Government subsidies under Kisan Drone Scheme
Under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), the Government of India provides capital grants up to 100% of drone cost to ICAR institutes, KVKs, and state agriculture universities, up to 75% for FPOs, and up to 40-50% for rural youth and women entrepreneurs establishing drone hiring hubs via agrimachinery.nic.in.
Official source
Check the latest rules, benefits and forms here. KisanPe is an independent platform and is not a government website.
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
How much water does drone spraying save compared to manual spraying?
Drones use ultra-low volume atomizers requiring only 8 to 10 litres of water per acre, saving up to 80% to 90% water compared to conventional knapsack spraying.
Is a pilot license mandatory to operate a farm spray drone?
Yes, operators must complete certification from a DGCA-approved training institute to fly commercial agricultural drones legally.
Where can FPOs and farmers apply for drone purchase subsidies?
Applications are submitted through the central SMAM portal on agrimachinery.nic.in or state agriculture mechanization directorates.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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