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The University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad organised a national conference on Comprehensive Crop Management through Drone Technology in Agriculture (CCMDTA) in Dharwad on October 30. Resource persons presented various papers on the emerging technology and its potential benefits. V. P. Chaudhary Principal Scientist, ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, spoke on the various aspects of drone application in agriculture. UAS Vice-Chancellor P. L. Patil said that drone technology is emerging as a ray of hope to answer the problems of farm labour, wastage of water, improper use of chemicals, and to forecast disease and pest outbreaks. “Through the adoption of drone technology, not only can crop loss be reduced, but biodiversity and soil health can be promoted. This will ensure sustainability in agriculture” he said. “Drone technology is changing the face of farming by giving farmers tools that feel almost like an extension of themselves, helping them understand and care for their land on a deeper level. Instead of simply machines, drones act as agile eyes in the sky, zipping across fields to capture vivid images and data about crop health, soil conditions, and irrigation patterns. With this bird’s-eye view, farmers can spot problems early — whether a patch of yellowing plants, signs of thirsty soil, or a tiny outbreak of pests — and respond before the issue grows. Drones also make daily tasks, like spraying fertilizer and pesticides, more precise and less taxing, giving farmers relief from backbreaking work and reducing their contact with chemicals,” he said. He said that India is expected to be home to over 600 drone manufacturing and related companies by 2025, reflecting the rapid growth in the sector. Already, over 100 agricultural drone manufacturing companies are actively operating in the sector. According to recent industry reports, drone-based agriculture has helped reduce chemical usage by 30-40%, and saved around 222 million tonnes of water worldwide. Aequs Limited Chief Technology Officer Ravi Guttal said that the days were not far when drone would take up most of the everyday operations in agriculture. ‘In recent years, there have been significant development in the field of agricultural technology, but concerted efforts to take them to the actual beneficiaries are needed,” he said.
