Kisan Drone: 7 Ways Farmers Can Use Drones for Faster Crop Spraying

Agricultural drones are being tested and demonstrated across India for spraying fertilisers, pesticides and biopesticides. ICAR has conducted demonstrations in crops including turmeric, tomato, banana, cabbage, sugarcane, potato, maize and coconut, showing that drone applications can cover crops where conventional spraying is difficult.

For farmers, the main advantage is speed and more controlled application. ICAR’s agricultural advisories say drone spraying has already proved useful in crops such as paddy, maize, jowar, groundnut, Bengal gram and chilli. A 10-litre drone can spray about an acre in six to 10 minutes under suitable operating conditions.

7 Ways Farmers Can Use Drone Technology

1. Spray crops when labour is limited

Manual spraying can require considerable time and labour, especially when crops are tall or fields are large. A drone can carry out spraying from above without requiring a worker to walk through the crop. This can be useful during periods when agricultural labour is difficult to find.

Farmers should still check whether drone application is suitable for their crop and the particular product being sprayed. The drone operator needs to follow the prescribed dose, spray volume, flight height and operating procedure rather than simply applying the same settings used in another crop.

2. Apply biopesticides more precisely

ICAR-NBAIR has developed standard operating procedures for precise delivery of oil-based biopesticide formulations using drones. Its demonstrations covered five clusters in Karnataka and involved around 600 farmers, officials, FPO representatives, self-help groups and custom hiring centres.

This can be useful where dense crop canopies make conventional spraying difficult. Farmers should use only formulations and application methods approved or recommended for drone use. The concentration of a product should never be increased simply because a drone is being used instead of a knapsack or tractor-mounted sprayer.

3. Reduce workers’ direct exposure

Drone spraying can reduce the need for farmers or farm workers to walk through recently treated fields. ICAR has highlighted reduced direct exposure to agricultural chemicals as one potential advantage of drone application.

This does not mean drones remove pesticide-related risks. Operators still handle concentrated products during mixing and filling, while people nearby can be exposed through drift. Farmers should follow product labels, maintain required buffer zones and keep people and livestock away from the operating area.

4. Reach tall or difficult crops

Drones can be particularly useful in crops where walking between plants is difficult. ICAR has demonstrated their use in coconut, arecanut and other taller or inaccessible cropping systems. Researchers have also tested drone-based crop protection in potato fields.

The suitability depends on canopy structure, terrain, weather and the target pest or disease. Farmers should ask the service provider how the drone will maintain adequate coverage. A faster spray is not useful if the application fails to reach the part of the plant that needs treatment.

5. Save time during critical crop stages

Timely spraying can matter when pests or diseases spread quickly. Drone application may allow farmers to treat larger areas within a shorter period than manual spraying. This can be useful when a crop reaches a sensitive growth stage and a field operation cannot easily be postponed.

Farmers should not spray simply because a drone is available. First identify the pest, disease or nutrient requirement and confirm that treatment is necessary. Integrated pest management recommends monitoring crops and choosing control measures according to actual pest pressure.

6. Hire instead of buying a drone

A farmer does not necessarily need to purchase a drone to use the technology. Government support has been designed to expand access through institutions, FPOs, custom hiring centres and other service providers. Under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization, support has been provided for drone procurement and demonstrations.

Farmers can ask their KVK, FPO, cooperative or local agriculture department whether a drone service is available in their area. Before hiring, compare the per-acre charge, product application cost, field size, travel charges and whether the operator provides the required equipment and trained personnel.

7. Women-led groups can provide drone services

The Namo Drone Didi scheme supports selected women self-help groups to provide agricultural drone rental services. The scheme provides central financial assistance of up to 80% of the drone and associated equipment cost, subject to a maximum of ₹8 lakh per group.

For farmers, this creates another possible route to access drone services without purchasing the equipment themselves. Local availability remains important, so farmers should check with their agriculture department or nearby self-help group federation about whether trained drone operators are offering services in their area.

Before booking a drone service, farmers should confirm the crop, product, recommended dose, spray volume and area to be treated. They should also check weather conditions, especially wind and rainfall, because unsuitable conditions can increase spray drift or reduce the effectiveness of an application.

Farmers should keep records of the treatment date, product used, quantity applied, area covered and cost. Comparing these details with manual spraying can show whether the technology actually saves money on a particular farm. Results will differ according to crop, terrain, field size and local service charges.

Agricultural drones can save time and reduce labour requirements, but they are not a replacement for good crop management. Farmers still need correct pest identification, suitable products and trained operators. For small farms, hiring through an FPO, custom hiring centre or women’s self-help group may be more practical than purchasing a drone.