Drone Revolution in Rural India

Drone Revolution in Rural India

Context: Drone revolution in Rural India will change the face of rural India and usher in innovation, productivity and improvement of livelihoods who will embrace its adoption.

What is Drone revolution?
• The “Drone Revolution” refers to the rapid evolution and widespread adoption of drone technology across various sectors. Initially considered as toys or tools for photography and surveillance, drones are now transforming industries and creating new opportunities.
• In India, for instance, the government is championing drone innovation with robust cybersecurity measures and a push for innovation.
• The aim is not just to master drone services but to develop top-tier drone technology, ensuring that India doesn’t just consume drones but designs, manufactures, and exports them. This ambition extends beyond just flying cameras to drones that can ferry humans, and even to drone flights on Mars.

What are the benefits of Drone revolution for Rural India?

Precision Agriculture
• Efficient data collection: Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors can collect accurate data on soil health, plant health, and water levels.
• Optimized use of resources: With better data, farmers can make informed decisions, leading to reduced waste of resources such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides.
• Improved crop yield: Precision agriculture practices have been shown to increase crop yield by up to 20% in some cases.

Crop Monitoring
• Faster scouting: Drones can cover large areas quickly, allowing farmers to identify issues such as pest infestation, diseases, and water stress in real-time.
• Reduced labor costs: Automated drone monitoring can help farmers save on labor costs, especially in rural areas where labor is scarce and expensive.

Rural Job creation
• Initiatives like the NAMO Drone Didi scheme which aim to train women in rural areas to become drone pilots. It will help them at the core of economic activity and contribute to rural prosperity.

Digitisation of Land Records
• The SVAMITVA scheme of the government aims to employ drone technology to survey village land areas to provide the villagers a “record of land rights” for its use as an asset and fighting off property disputes. It will boost confidence of rural poor and they can avail benefits of secured loans as well.

Irrigation management
• Precise water distribution: Drones equipped with thermal cameras can help farmers identify areas where water is being over or under-utilized, allowing for better water management.
• Reduced water wastage: With improved irrigation management, farmers can reduce water waste, an essential factor in water-scarce regions like rural India.

Disaster management
• Drones can be deployed to monitor weather conditions and detect early signs of natural disasters like floods or droughts and in case of any disaster, drones can help assess the damage in real-time, enabling faster response and relief efforts

What are the government of India schemes/initiatives to promote Drone Revolution?
• Drone Rules 2021: These rules provide the necessary regulatory framework for commercial use of drones. They cover various aspects like type certification, registration and operation of drones, airspace restrictions, research, development and testing of drones, training and licensing, offences and penalties
• Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: It offers incentives to manufacturers in this domain. There has been a substantial growth in the annual sales turnover of the drone manufacturing industry, from Rs. 60 crore in 2020-21 to over Rs. 900 crore in FY 2023-24.
• Drone Mahotsav 2022: This was one of the biggest drone festivals held in New Delhi by the Prime Minister of India. The event promotes drone technology.
• Drone Airspace Map: this map has opened nearly 90% of Indian airspace as a green zone for drone flying up to 400 feet.

Way Forward
• Improve internet connectivity in rural areas, train and empower more farmers to adapt to Drone technology and the government on their part should make Drones for agricultural usage affordable for farmers.