Agriculture varsity readies to deploy drones

Guntur: Officials  are making arrangements to use drones in crop management following Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s instruction for their deployment extensively in the sector. He directed the officials to take steps to use drones in the agriculture sector for spraying pesticides and chemicals. Following his directions,  senior official propose to train the agriculture department officials on drones use.  

At present, scientists from Acharya N G Ranga Agriculture University are conducting a feasibility study to use drones in the agriculture sector in the Bapatla Agriculture College for spraying pesticides, to get pictures and videos of crop damage caused by cyclones or drought and to know crop position. The agriculture scientists of the university have already went to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to examine use of drones in the agriculture.

They purchased a drone and conducting feasibility study in Bapatla Agriculture College and Lam Farm Agriculture Research Centre in Guntur. After N G Ranga Agriculture University submits the feasibility report, the government is ready give permission to use drones. Farmers may use mini drones to spray pesticides and chemicals in the agriculture fields with less costs.

In developed countries like US and Japan, drones are being used to spray chemicals to avoid hazardous effects on humans. Some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are already distributing kits to the agriculture workers to check skin diseases caused by pesticide spraying.  Speaking to The Hans India, Acharya N G Ranga Agriculture University board member Makela Lakshminarayana said  “Agriculture scientists of the university went to Tamil Nadu and other states and conducted study on use of drones in agriculture.

We have purchased a drone and conducting feasibility study in the Bapatla Agriculture College. I have moved a resolution in the university board meeting to recommend use of drones. They have to give feasibility study report to the government.  The government is in favour of using drones in the agriculture sector.”

Joint director of agriculture, Guntur district T Vijaya Bharati said, “Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed use drones in agriculture in a tele-conference. Senior officials are ready to conduct training to the lower-rung officials on how to use drones in the agriculture sector.’’