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IN PERSPECTIVE
Agri-Drones for Next Generation Farming Indian farming is marred by low productivity and high investment, making it unsustainable for small farmers. However, drone-based precision farming has the potential to bring Indian agriculture out of decades of trough. By Nagarajan P, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechatronics, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology
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recision farming is one of the most scientific and modern approaches to sustainable agriculture that has gained momentum in the 21st century. Precision farming aims to improve crop performance and environmental quality. It is defined as the application of technologies and principles to manage spatial and temporal variability associated with all aspects of agricultural production (Pierce and Nowak, 1999).
Labor shortages in many villages in Tamil Nadu today are making plantation farmers consider precision farming. The Bannari Amman Institute of Technology is engaging with farmers in one such village, Sathyamangalam in Erode district, who primarily grow jasmine plants, to take up precision farming. Apart from labor shortage, the jasmine farmers also face health issues – their lungs and skin are affected by the use of insecticides and pesticides. In order to overcome such challenges, the Institute has suggested they do precision farming using drone technology. Autonomous drones can address the issue of spraying insecticide and fertilizer, eliminating the challenge of labor shortage and reducing the possibility of health problems.
Advantages of using drone technology In general, jasmine growers have to spray insecticides once every four days during the blooming period to control the spread of insects and disease. For this, they have to rely on manual labor. Labor-intensive activities often result in mistakes and unintended costs, plus the quality of produce gets affected. Finally, the farmers end up with more investment and less income. A team of experts from the Institute conducted a field study in the jasmine fields to determine the correct insecticide to water ratio, travelling speed, nozzle pressure, and various other parameters. The team found manual spraying used more insecticides and water than GEOSPATIAL ARTHA Volume 01 » ISSUE 01
