AEROSPACE/DEFENCE HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING
Advancing agriculture from the air
The emerging drone industry in India is being helped by a government push for greater adoption in the farming sector
FRONTIERS PHOTONICS
U
nmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with image sensors are already providing accurate crop
height and health data on farms in the West. This data, through machine learning, can be used by farmers to estimate biomass and yield, and make important farm management decisions, such as on crop rotation. However, in vast agricultural regions such as India, the uptake has not been as significant. This is why the Indian government introduced support measures last year to encourage the use of drones within the farming sector in an attempt to boost yields.
Subsidies and training initiatives were announced following the results of several pilot studies, which demonstrated the effectiveness of satellite and drone imaging
in improving direct yield estimations, risk mapping and crop management. The government also pointed to benefits such as more efficient use of resources, fewer field operational delays, faster turnaround times, and better pesticide management – crucially, resulting in reduced human exposure and less water use. Under the new incentives, the government will subsidise up to 100% of the cost of the purchase or hire of drones, and has also developed accessible guidance documents to provide information on how to use drones safely and effectively, including for pesticide and nutrient application. The government has also eased drone ownership regulations in agriculture to encourage adoption. The use of drones in farms in India has been relatively uncommon up until now, but
“Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with image sensors are already providing accurate crop height and health data on farms”
it is hoped the new incentives will overcome traditional barriers to adoption, such as cost and training. The new initiatives also aim to encourage the domestic technology development within the emerging drone industry, which currently boasts nearly 300 start-ups, according to Tracxn Technologies. The agricultural drone market in India is set to experience a four-fold increase by 2028, with a projected CAGR of more than 25% during 2022-2028, market research firm BlueWeave Consulting predicts.
g Photonics Frontiers 2023 53
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