The agricultural community in Kuttanad, Kerala, commonly known as the ‘Rice Bowl of Kerala’, is currently undergoing a significant transformation due to the escalating integration of drone technology. This technological advancement is proving to be a game-changer for farmers, enabling them to overcome challenges such as labour scarcity and achieve heightened yields.
Unmanned aerial vehicles, equipped with advanced cameras and sensors, are being employed for various tasks including crop monitoring, fertiliser and pesticide spraying, and seeding in hard-to-reach areas. This has substantially diminished the requirement for manual labour and heightened precision in farming practices.
Devan Chandrasekharan, the Founder & Managing Director of Fuselage Innovations, a drone-manufacturing company, has observed a surge in demand for drones among farming communities in the region. He underscores the numerous advantages of drone technology, such as time-saving, precise resource management, and increased yield. With the capability to cover a three-acre farmland in just 25 minutes, a single set of drone batteries can operate on a GPS-defined route.
Chandrasekharan also emphasised the accessibility of drone technology, with the government offering subsidies ranging from 50 to 80%, making it more affordable for farmers. The adoption of drones follows a precision farming protocol that not only reduces farming costs but also ensures additional yield. The potential return from these operations is estimated to be around Rs 12,000 per acre, with an expenditure of approximately Rs 3,000 per acre for spraying.
In Kuttanad, where farming is predominantly carried out using a cooperative system, the affordability of such modern technologies is heightened as the cost can be shared among a large group of farmers. M K Dileep, Secretary of the Upper Kuttanad Farming Development Society, highlighted the benefits of the cooperative system in making technologies like drone technology more accessible. Dileep stressed the importance of government support through subsidies to ensure the affordability of modern farming technologies for smaller farming communities.
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kumarakom, and local grama panchayats have played a significant role in promoting the adoption of drone technology. M C Prasad, the President of Kainakary Grama Panchayat, mentioned the support provided by the local authorities in conducting free pesticide spraying using drones. This support aims to encourage the farming community to embrace technologies that can augment their yield and overall profits.
The use of drone technology in farming represents a significant shift in traditional farming practices, bringing with it the promise of increased productivity and efficiency. As the farming community in Kuttanad continues to embrace this revolutionary technology, it is evident that drones are here to stay as a crucial tool in modern agriculture.
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