News Excerpt:

The Agriculture Ministry has extended the interim approval granted for the already approved use of pesticide formulations through drones for another year till April 18, 2025.

Key Points:

• On April 18, 2022, the Ministry released a memorandum listing the interim-approved pesticides to be used for spraying by drones for a period of two years. 
• The registered pesticide formulations comprising insecticides, fungicides and plant growth regulators (PGRs) (including bio-pesticides and botanical pesticides) which otherwise are permitted to be sprayed manually by knapsack sprayers in India have been provisionally approved for commercial use through drones.
• The crop protection industry has been seeking an extension of the approval so that the ongoing impetus to the use of drones in agriculture shall continue. The Government has been promoting the use of drone technology in agriculture.

Terms and conditions:

• All other terms and conditions for the use of drones for spraying plant protection chemicals including the standard operating procedures etc. will remain the same.
• The SOPs for the use of drones for spraying pesticides on crops released some time back cover important aspects like statutory provisions, flying permissions, area distance restrictions, weight classification, overcrowded areas restriction, drone registration, safety insurance, piloting certification, operation plan, air flight zones, weather conditions.
• It also covers SOPs for pre, post and during-operation periods, emergency handling plan, etc.
• The aerial application of pesticides through drones will be allowed subject to certain provisions. 
• For instance, operators should use only approved pesticides and their formulations at approved concentration and height.
• Operators have to ensure washing decontamination and first-aid facilities and notify the public about the aerial application of pesticides not less than 24 hours in advance through competent authorities. 
• According to the ministry, the pilots should undergo specialised training including clinical effects of insecticides.

Significance of government move:

• The latest move would boost the application of agrochemicals through drones.
• This will go a long way in boosting the agrochemical infrastructure and especially provide a boost to the Drone Didi scheme. 
• The drone technology helps in immense water savings along with being a step towards precision agriculture.
• In conventional agricultural practices, pesticides are sprayed either manually or with the help of tractor-mounted sprayers where high quantities of pesticides and water are used and where a sizable portion of spray goes to waste in the environment.