Farmers may have always served as the backbone of our great nation, but that backbone is weakening under labor shortages and unpredictable weather. That’s where agriculture drone technology comes into play. Agriculture drones represent a true leap forward in how we farm and produce food.
If you are a farmer asking yourself whether it is a wise decision for you to adopt an agriculture drone in India, or an entrepreneur on the lookout for opportunities with agriculture drone companies in India, this guide is a strong resource for showing you the ways in which agriculture drone technology addresses real-world challenges on real-life Indian farms on a day-to-day basis.
1. Non-uniform Pesticide and Fertilizer Applications
The standard method of pesticide and fertilizer application is through spraying. This leads to a frequent problem in the agricultural community referred to as a “hot spot.” Some parts of your land receive too much pesticide while other parts get too little. This is economically poor. Products are wasted, crops will suffer, and pest control management will generally suffer as well.
Agriculture drone sprayers use GPS and other sensors to apply pesticides and fertilizer with proper control to every point in every field. Farmers reported 30-40% less chemicals used, health of crops increased, and most importantly cost savings. The leading agriculture drone manufacturers in India, such as Vaimianka Aerospace, design drones specifically for Indian crops and Indian cropping conditions.
2. Huge Water Waste
Water shortage is a serious problem facing Indian agriculture. Conventional sprayers dispense 400-500 liters of water per acre, much of which evaporates or runs off without being used.
Agriculture drones eliminate this wasted water through ultra-low volume (ULV) spraying technology that only requires 10-15 liters of water per acre, saving 90-95% of all water. For a 10-acre farm, it saves 4,000+ liters of water in every use.
3. Labor Shortage and Rising Prices
Recruiting skilled agricultural labor is a growing difficulty across India. Spraying by hand might work out to require 8-10 workers to cover 10 acres, taking 2-3 days, and at a certain expense, at a certain labor effort, and at a certain level of management.
Using an agriculture drone would do the same work in 2-3 hours with only 1 person operating. This results in time savings of 80-90% improvement in labor costs, less labor risk (i.e., no one else is exposed to chemicals), and lower price for operation overall. Many agri drone companies in India also offer financing options making this technology more available to more farmers.
4. Missing Critical Spraying Windows
Timing is important in agriculture. Spraying must take place in several defined windows, such as early in the morning, doing it right after pest identification, or before rain. If someone is spraying manually, there is always the risk of missing a window, as it takes time to recruit labor and because only the ground equipment will be limited to what is possible when wet/muddy.
5. Challenges of Monitoring Large Areas of Farms
For farmers who own larger farms, it can be challenging to look over every area regularly because it can be exhausting and time-consuming. Problems often go unnoticed until they have developed far beyond an acceptable level.
Agriculture drones are equipped with cameras and sensors, providing extensive inspection capabilities; they can quickly analyze entire farms in minutes, identify the stress level of plants before it is visible, and allow for targeted application of chemicals to those specific areas as opposed to treating the entire field. This allows the management of a farm to move from being reactive to proactive.
Choosing to Invest
Agriculture drones typically range between ₹3-10 lakhs, depending on specifications and features. While this is a significant cost, most business owners who start their own kisan drone sales and service center can recoup the investment through:
- Selling drones (majorly)
- Providing services like spraying, mapping, monitoring and more
- Additional income from providing services to nearby farms
- Conducting drone demo programs (exclusive opportunity for Vaimanika dealers)
How to Get Started
Many agriculture drone companies in India like us, have service centers that provide drone spraying on a per-acre basis. If looking for an entrepreneurial venture, starting a drone service center presents a unique opportunity with a great market demand and a minimal barrier to entry.
Whether you are a farmer who would like to modernize their farm operations or an entrepreneur looking for a business venture, drones for agriculture have proven solutions to real agriculture challenges. Leading agriculture drone manufacturers in India, such as Vaimanika Aerospace, provide complete support, training, and service networks to set you up for success.
The future of agriculture in India has arrived – precision farming with drone technology. Call Vaimanika Aerospace for further information about how drones can change your farm or income streams.
