Seeds, Soil and Machines: India's Farm Inputs
Drones and Precision Farming
How drones and precision technologies can spray inputs more efficiently, India's Drone Didi scheme, and the barriers to adoption.
Precision farming uses technology to apply inputs exactly where and when needed.
Drones
- Spray pesticides and liquid fertilisers quickly.
- Reduce exposure for farm workers.
- Save water and chemicals.
Drone Didi
The Namo Drone Didi scheme (2023) aims to provide drones to women’s self-help groups, who offer spraying services to farmers for a fee.
Other precision tools
- Soil sensors.
- Satellite imagery for crop health.
- Weather-based advisories.
- Variable-rate application.
Benefits
- Lower input costs.
- Higher yields.
- Less environmental damage.
Barriers
- Cost of equipment.
- Small plots limit economies of scale.
- Skills and training.
- Regulations for drone flights, though rules were liberalised in 2021.
Service models
As with custom hiring, services rather than ownership make precision tech accessible to small farmers.
The drone service
A women's self-help group in a village earns income by spraying crops with a drone, covering an acre in minutes and charging farmers per acre.
Thinking high-tech farming is only for big farms
Service models bring drones to small farmers.
Key takeaways
- Precision farming applies inputs exactly where needed.
- Drones spray quickly and reduce exposure.
- Namo Drone Didi provides drones to women's groups.
- Cost, small plots and skills are barriers.
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