From Field to Flight: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Drones in Farm Management

Do you have a business in the agricultural or farming industry? If yes, then you must have heard about precision farming. Drones for agriculture use and progressive technology are Precision Agriculture or Precision Farming. Today, the use of drones in farming is prominent as drones are used beyond military purposes and film shooting. It is expected that in 2024, drone technology will rise multiple folds.  In today’s world where everything is automated, the agricultural sector has come a long way from field to flight as well. Drones are being used to monitor crops, control pest attacks, inspect soil quality, spray the pesticides and Nano urea on the crops and much more. For a better understanding, here’s a comprehensive guide to using farming drones in farm management.

What do you Understand About Farming Drones?

Farming drones are also referred to as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). By making use of drones in farming, farmers can increase crop production and assess crop growth. The ability to get sensory images allows the farmers to have a wider picture of their fields.  To get a bird’s-eye view from the sky, farmers utilise farming drones in a way that many issues such as soil erosion, excessive irrigation, and pest attacks are also resolved. And, this digitised view of the entire farm helps the farmers to observe crop growth and production. In simple words, a drone or a UAV is a flying robot that is controlled with a remote through a global positioning system (GPS).

How are Farming Drones Beneficial?

By 2025, drone technology will most likely increase at a good rate. Now that you know some basics about farming drones, it is time to know how these farming drones are beneficial in the agricultural sector. To learn about the same, read further:

• Time-Saving

Whether you are growing crops on a big scale or working as a small farmer, a lot of hard work and countless hours are spent to reach the desired goal. For many agribusinesses and farmers, agricultural drones are indeed, an investment of a lifetime. The use of drones in agriculture allows farmers to get high-resolution images due to the sensory motors attached to the drones. They can even get video content within just 7 minutes. With the help of drones, they can easily see the bigger picture in no time.

• Pinpoint Potential Problems

One of the best uses of farming drones is that they help troubleshoot potential issues, be it big or small. Earlier, assessment involved searching for problems until it was too late. Farming drones can help farmers identify dangerous chemicals and bacteria attacks by preventing the livestock from being damaged. 

• Cost-Effectiveness

With the adoption of drone technology, a lot of overall cost is reduced because the images produced by drones have high resolution.  Drones can fly multiple times during the season. Now, farmers and agribusinesses can get drones at relatively low prices and get a clear picture of crop growth and soil health. Invest in something that holds value, so make every dollar count with our IOTECH Drones.

• Sustainable Development

Farming drones allow for maintaining a balance in the environment because they are used for spraying purposes. Earlier, man-made labour was used to spray pesticides and fertilizers on the entire cropland. Using farming drones for spraying large fields and dusting crops reduces air pollution as well as saves time and cost.

What is the Role of Farming Drones for Agricultural Use?

Primarily, in precision farming, farming drones are used in a variety of practices, from getting soil samples to monitoring crop fields. The use of drones in agriculture is a versatile process. To provide farmers and agri-businesses with real-time and accurate data about crop growth, farming plans, and pest attacks, technologies such as hyperspectral, multispectral, and thermal are adapted.  At this time when high-technological advancements are pretty expensive, drones are a cost-effective approach to a sustainable and safe ecosystem. With the help of farming drones, farmers can survey the damaged stock after a flood or any other natural calamity. Want to know how a drone can be helpful? Read further for the same

• Crop Monitoring and Surveying

Traditionally, crop monitoring and surveying were done manually with the help of a tractor and other costly technology. But now, farming drones are used to analyse the same from a bird-eye’s view within minutes. For instance, time-lapse and GPS can be used to monitor crop growth closely and special sensors in the drone camera help in clear and sharp images. Also, it can detect pest attacks and identify whether the crops are disease-struck. With farming drones, farmers are able to deal with problems in the quickest way and also make essential adjustments when higher productivity is required. The ever-changing pace of technology, farmers can now pay considerable attention to their crops. 

• Pest and Weed Control

With many crops, including wheat, palm oil, rice, soyabean, cotton, and corn, crop failure is caused all of those. Practically, all major crops get affected by the weed and pest attack. With the implementation of drone technology, the crops can be treated for the pest attack. Ideally, the specialized camera and sensory motors in the drone help it detect pests and weed attacks. Also, GPS technology has the ability to provide valuable data about the place where crops have been damaged. 

• Soil Health

The farming drones are regularly used to assess soil health and crop growth. Traditional farming involves practices such as visiting the field manually and reviewing the soil samples. With the evolution, farming drones are used to review the farmland at large. Evaluating the soil health and monitoring the crop yield are critical for precision farming operations. It is said that the more real-time data is, the more valuable it is for farmers.  Now, farmers can make the judgments and right decisions about what to plant, where to sow seeds, and how to use these drones. As a result, the entire harvests will become healthier and more abundant. 

• Irrigation and Spraying 

Evidently, it is impossible to perform agricultural practices without water. With the help of these drones, farmers can now conduct an irrigation operation to water the entire field and certain crops. In some cases, water and irrigation can be expensive, and using it excessively can even damage crops. However, drone surveying can detect these problems before they become a problem.  Also Read:

• What is Precision Agriculture?
• What is Kisan Drone?

Agricultural Drone Price in INR

The future of farming drones is promising. With the rising problem of food security, the use of drones in agriculture is here to stay. Generally, the cost of farming drones depends on what type of drone you are operating from. But, the cost of farming drones lies somewhere between 8 to 12 lacs. Besides, you must also consider factors like brand, installed technology, and quality of sensors and cameras.

Make Use of Drones in Agriculture with IOTECH:

IOTECH is a leading company that deals in providing farming drones to farmers and agricultural businesses. We aim to create a sustainable environment by presenting customer-friendly and innovative drones for agricultural practices. Some of our company strengths are listed below:  

• Social selling in PAN India 
• Connect our service providers through our mobile app, AGRINET 
• Innovative drone model and RADAR-based technology
• Rich in R&D manufacturing 
• Our drones are multipurpose
• Loan assistance 

With several drone models, you can make use of those which are best-suited for you. Some of our products are as follows:

• IOTECH Agribot Drone
• IOTECH Agribot A6 Drone
• IOTECH Agribot MX Drone
• IOTECH Drishti Drone
• IOTECH HeavyBot Drone
• IOTECH Surveybot Drone

Conclusion

The eventual goal of agriculture is to build a sustainable environment. To this, precision agriculture is an excellent solution to all rising problems in farm management. With the implementation of farming drones, farmers and agribusinesses can look after field  operations with the quickest and easiest approach. Now that you know the importance of  UAVs, reach out to us at IOTECH Drones and get started with your farming practices by contributing to a healthy ecosystem.  Also Know:

• Best Drones for Farmers in India
• Best Drones for Spraying Fertilizer
• Best Drones for Spraying Pesticides
• Best Drones for Crop Monitoring

Frequently Asked Questions