News Excerpt:

The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) has completed the first round of testing on using drones in agriculture. Results show that proper use of drones can bring down the volume of pesticides required by at least 15% and improve efficiency by nearly 23%.

Methodology of the study:

• Tests were conducted across 10 research centres. 
• Red gram and finger millet were chosen for testing.
• In each research centre, the crops were grown on two 625 sq m plots. 
• While on one plot conventional spray was used, on the other, pesticides were sprayed using drones. 
• The study also involved recording the efficiency of drones for foliar spraying during droughts. 
• Foliar plant spray involves applying fertiliser directly to a plant's leaves as opposed to putting it in the soil.

Results of the study:

• While conventional spray methods recorded an efficiency of 65%, drone sprays recorded a higher efficiency of 88%.

Need for Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the use of Drones:

• Currently, India does not have a policy or guidelines on usage of drones for agriculture.
• While farmers are increasingly shifting towards the use of drones, particularly to apply foliar sprays, insecticides, and pesticides, crop damage is being reported from all across the country because there are no SOPs in place.
• Many farmers just pay drone operators and get the farm sprayed. 
• However, the efficiency is not up to the mark, resulting in low crop yield. 
• A set of guidelines can help farmers check if drone companies are doing a good job.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the use of Drones:

• The test results are being collated to recommend best practices. UAS, for the first time, is working towards framing a standard operating procedure (SOP) and guidelines on drone use for various crops.
• While using drones in agriculture is useful, determining the amount of pesticide that has to be used, the height from which it has to be sprayed based on the wind direction, and many such parameters play a crucial role in determining the efficiency.

Significance of drones in agriculture:

• It requires less manpower and helps prevent diseases due to pesticide inhalation. 
• However, a lack of guidelines has forced farmers to rely on private drone companies which may lack expertise in the agriculture sector.
• Using drones in agriculture can save farmers a lot of manual work and help them be more precise with irrigation water.
• In regions where water resources are scarce or overused, drones can help farmers optimise irrigation practices.
  

Growth of drone use in India:

• While there is no concrete data on the number of drones being used in the agriculture sector, according to an American consulting firm, agricultural drone usage in India will grow at 38.5% CAGR and reach a value of $121.43 million by 2030.

UPSC PYQs

Q. Consider the following activities: (UPSC 2020)

1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field
2. Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes.
3. Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis

At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3