India is witnessing real change on the ground with agricultural-drone adoption, particularly through government programs, startups, and local entrepreneurs. One such shining example is the “Drone Didi” initiative at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Nine women, having been trained as remote pilots, have applied nano-urea, nano-DAP, and pesticides on ~2,581 acres within approximately 10 months and earned approximately ₹3,38,500 in the process. The project not only saves labor and time but also socially empowers rural women.
Another example is from Rajasthan. Ashish Beniwal, an engineer, bought a 10-L spraying drone (approx. INR 9.5 lakh) to cater to his area. For 30 bighas (≈7.5 acres), he saved on pesticide and fertilizer expenses from INR 2 lakh to INR 25,000, without losing yields. His business also offers commercial spraying services to thousands of acres, highlighting the entrepreneurial value.
Also, in Odisha’s Ganjam district, Subhen Kumar Panigrahy, with drone training and a civil aviation license, is operating a ~15-kg drone on 40 acres and providing services to other farmers. Where manual spraying might take hours per acre, his drone does the work in 10-15 minutes. In ~1½ years, he has sprayed over ~640 acres.
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Key Impacts & Lessons
Time & cost savings: Across all instances, drones cut labor requirements and time significantly relative to hand or tractor spraying.
Reduction in chemical inputs: Targeted spraying and accurate application reduce pesticide/fertilizer application.
Yield maintenance or increase: Lower inputs with correct application will generally maintain yields or slightly improve them.
Entrepreneurial opportunity: People can establish small enterprises providing drone services to others, expanding beyond their own farms.
Empowerment and training are essential: Licensing, initial pilot training, and institutional or policy support are key.