Drones Are Moving Into Indian Farms, What Can Farmers Actually Use Them For?

Agricultural drones are becoming more visible in Indian farming. Farmers and service providers are using them mainly for spraying fertilisers, pesticides and other crop inputs. Research institutions are also testing drones for crop monitoring, pest detection and precision agriculture. The technology can save time and labour, but its usefulness depends on the crop and farm size.

Government data show that 2,122 agricultural drones have been distributed or approved under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization. The government is also supporting drone demonstrations and rental services. This means farmers do not necessarily need to purchase a drone themselves to access the technology.

What Can a Farm Drone Actually Do?

The most established use is spraying. Drones can apply pesticides, fertilisers and other inputs over fields without requiring a worker to carry a heavy sprayer. ICAR says drone spraying can reduce water and input wastage when used according to recommended operating procedures and can also reduce workers’ direct exposure to chemicals.

ICAR’s drone demonstrations have covered crops including rice, maize, groundnut and sugarcane. In one ICAR zone, 6,260 demonstrations covering 7,610 hectares were conducted over three years, with more than 42,000 farmers participating. These demonstrations focused mainly on insecticides, micronutrients, weedicides and fungicides.

Drones can also help farmers monitor crops from above. Cameras and sensors can capture images that reveal differences in crop growth, damaged areas, pest problems or nutrient stress. These images can then support more targeted decisions instead of treating an entire field in the same way.

The government is already using drones alongside satellites, artificial intelligence, remote sensing and GIS for crop monitoring. Such systems are being used for crop assessment and agricultural planning. For individual farmers, this technology could become more useful as local service providers begin offering field mapping and crop-monitoring services.

Do Farmers Need to Buy a Drone?

For most small farmers, purchasing a drone may not be the first option. The equipment is expensive, requires trained operators and needs batteries, charging facilities, maintenance and regulatory compliance. A farmer who uses a drone only a few times each season may find hiring a service more practical.

The government is supporting service-based access through Custom Hiring Centres, Farmer Producer Organisations and other groups. Under SMAM, financial assistance is available for establishing Custom Hiring Centres for Kisan Drones. This allows farmers to access the equipment without carrying the full ownership cost.

The Namo Drone Didi programme takes a similar approach. Selected women self-help groups receive drones and training so they can provide agricultural services to farmers. Government data show that 1,094 drones had been distributed to Drone Didis, with members receiving training through authorised remote pilot organisations.

This model can also create rural employment. A trained drone operator can provide spraying or other services to several farms during a season. For farmers, the benefit is access to machinery when required. For rural youth and women’s groups, the equipment can become a service-based business.

What Are the Main Benefits?

One advantage is speed. A drone can cover fields without requiring workers to walk through every part of the crop. This can become useful during periods when labour is scarce or when farmers need to complete spraying within a short weather window.

Drones can also help reduce water use during spraying. Their ultra-low-volume application systems can carry smaller quantities of spray mixture than some conventional methods. But the actual saving depends on the crop, chemical, nozzle settings, weather and application method.

Another benefit is access to difficult areas. Wet fields, uneven terrain or dense crops can make conventional spraying difficult. A drone can operate above the crop without requiring a tractor or person to move through the field, though operators still need to follow safety requirements.

Drones are not a replacement for agronomic decisions. Farmers still need to identify the pest or nutrient problem, select the correct product and follow the recommended dose. Spraying a field with a drone does not automatically make the treatment precise if the underlying problem has not been correctly diagnosed.

Crop monitoring is one area where drone technology could become more useful in the future. High-resolution images can help identify uneven crop growth, water stress, pest damage and other field-level differences. Farmers can then combine these observations with advice from agricultural experts before deciding on treatment.

ICAR’s work is already linking drones with broader digital agriculture systems. The National Pest Surveillance System uses farmer photographs and artificial intelligence to help identify pests and provide recommendations. Drones can complement such systems by providing a wider view of crop conditions.

But farmers should not buy expensive sensors simply because the technology is available. Basic drone imagery may be enough for some tasks, while multispectral or thermal sensors may be useful for more advanced monitoring. The right equipment depends on what problem the farmer wants to solve.

What Should Farmers Check Before Hiring a Drone?

Farmers should first ask what service the drone operator is providing. For spraying, they should check whether the operator is trained, whether the drone and equipment meet applicable requirements and whether the recommended pesticide dose and application method are being followed.

They should also compare the cost with conventional spraying. A cheaper-looking drone service may not provide savings if several trips are required or if poor application causes crop damage. Farmers should consider field size, crop stage, labour availability and the number of applications required.

For FPOs and Custom Hiring Centres, the calculation is different. A drone can become viable when several farmers use the service regularly. The organisation can spread equipment and maintenance costs across many customers while keeping trained operators available locally.

The bigger opportunity is therefore not simply putting more drones into farms. It is creating reliable services around them. Spraying is already the main use, while monitoring and data-based crop management are developing. For small farmers, hiring a trained operator may remain more practical than owning the machine.