The Agriculture Ministry of India has obtained permission from the aviation regulator DGCA to fly drones over rice and wheat fields in 100 districts in order to estimate crop yields at the gram panchayat level under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). This is the country’s first large-scale pilot project using remote sensing technology for agricultural production estimation.
Apart from drone-based photos, the large scale pilot project will also utilise high spatial resolution satellite data, biophysical models, smart sampling, and artificial intelligence.
India is the world’s agricultural superpower. Agriculture accounts for around 18% of India’s total GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Lack of access to new agricultural technologies such as drones has proven to be a constraint on the sector’s progress. The approval mentioned above could suggest that drones can now be utilised more extensively for agricultural purposes in India.
For many years, drones have found a place in private industrial use; their commercial applications continue to expand as quickly as inventors come up with new ideas. Drones have proven to be an indispensable tool for farmers globally, particularly in the agriculture industry. Drone technology is advantageous for a variety of uses, including remote monitoring of tiny areas of crops and entire fields. Drones assist farmers in addressing the agriculture industry’s numerous emerging difficulties. The agriculture drone market is therefore expanding exponentially. According to Reports and Data, the agriculture drone industry size was USD 1.37 billion in 2020 and is expected to register a massive CAGR of 34.5% over 2021-2028.
One advantage of drones in agriculture is their capacity to meet the expanding demands of the population. Drone technology has aided farmers in overcoming hurdles encountered while inspecting crops in the field. Satellite imaging is the most advanced method of crop monitoring available to date. Nonetheless, this technology has a number of disadvantages, prompting farmers to choose drones instead. Precision is lacking in satellite imagery, as photos are retrieved only once a day, which is insufficient for farmers. Drone technology, on the other hand, can provide a live feed or as many images as necessary, making them significantly more precise and efficient and aiding in precision farming.
Precision agriculture practises, which assist farmers in making more informed decisions, have advanced dramatically in recent years. While drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have not yet penetrated the mainstream agriculture space, they are increasingly important in precision farming, assisting agriculture professionals in setting the standard for sustainable farming practises while also protecting and increasing profitability.
02/11/21 Biswas Debanjan/Tech Bullion
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