Nagpur: Ramesh Patil (name changed), a farmer in Akola, said he has managed to use drones for spraying pesticides over a year now.
Patil, who owns nearly 170 acres of land, began to use the glyph in the face of labor shortages.
is larger holding is one of the reasons for the use of drones, said farmers do not want to be named.
Patil fear regulatory action, because he did not have any permits for aerial spraying.
He was able to buy the drones, but Patil said there might not be much in Vidarbha using technology.
In November, the government issued a standard operating procedure for the use of drones in the agricultural sector.
Budget also provided a boost.
Ministry of Agriculture has come up with a scheme to drone funds to farmers producers organizations, cooperatives and entrepreneurs.
Much before the measures stated, part of the farmers in the state have started using a drone.
Saurabh Ghewari in Pandharpur, Solapur city drones assemble.
Ghewari said he had sold 10 drones so far and no orders for three.
From being sold, six are in Western Maharashtra.
“There is great demand of sugar cane farmers in Sangli and Kolhapur districts.
There are other suppliers as well, “he said.
drone operators were directed to the institution of candidates approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Institutions do not have DGCI approval to provide training but not a certificate, a source said.
Patil Sys he himself learned to operate the drone.
As some farmers are already using drones, there is a view among stakeholders mix of agro-chemical industry and activists.
The use of drones is expected to increase the consumption of pesticides, said the source.
Harish Mehta, a senior adviser Crop Care Federation of India, said the unmanned aircraft spraying is globally accepted practice.
Industry in India has also been pushing for it.
However, certain issues need to be considered.
“For example, in the manual spraying chemicals are highly diluted.
In limited water drone used because the chemicals are largely concentrated.
spraying occurs in the form of a fine mist, do not pose a danger and increased coverage, “he said.
Mehta said there needs to be clarity about the types of molecules that can be sprayed by a plane.
“More well-trained operator and the necessary charging points in the interior,” he said.
Narsimha Reddy NGO Pesticide Action Network, said he was opposed to aerial spraying of agricultural chemicals and has sent a letter to the government.
“In India, small holdings and each plot has a mix of plants.
Because of different pesticides are required for each plant, spraying the air that covers a larger area may not be practical here, “Reddy said, adding,” In India, areas close to human settlements.
Drone spraying may pose a danger to them.
” In Yavatmal, Manish Jhadav said only rich farmers could benefit from it.
Asitava Sen, CEO of Plant Life, an agro-chemical industry association, said the drones can reduce the risk for sprayers and a solution to the labor shortage as well.
Anil Ghanawat, president of Shetkari Sanghathana which also backs the use of drones, said the government should allow the more important technologies such as GM crops.
“This will do away with the need spraying for the most part,” he said.