Drone Services in Agricultural Practices

Looking into the unique advantages of drone technologies in agriculture, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) has released the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for use of drones in pesticide and nutrient application.

All the drone operations in the country are governed by the Drone Rules, 2021, notified by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). The Digital Sky platform launched by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) facilitates registration of drones, pilots, and operators for online permission while enforcing safety and security guidelines. The Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC) has notified the procedure for conducting experiments and approving pesticides to be used for drone application.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 25 March 2022.