Farmers no longer need to transport large tanks or risk their health by spraying dangerous chemicals on crops since GPS-equipped drones are now at their disposal. Drones spray pesticide while hovering low over rice fields on a GPS-defined route. This was one among the innovations exhibited by scientists to farmers at the Agriculture Research Station's Kisan Mela on Wednesday.
Farmers that employ drone technology to spray pesticides can save money and increase output, according to Agriculture Research Station Director of Research L. Prashanthi.
"Farmers have responded positively to the Krishi Vignanan Kendra's pilot initiative to promote drone technology," she added. Drones would go a long way toward alleviating the severe labour shortage that farmers, particularly rice producers, are experiencing.
According to her, the technology will also prevent pesticides from being used indiscriminately since drones assure consistent spraying that covers every inch of the crop. A drone could figure out how much insecticide was needed for a specific crop size.
During the kharif cropping season, Dr. Prashanti also encouraged farmers to switch from rice to alternate pulse, oilseed, and millet crops.
Collector K.V.N. Chakaradhar Babu, who inaugurated the Kisan Mela, urged scientists and personnel to work together to impart best agricultural methods.
K. Sanjeeviah, a member of the Governing Board of the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University and a Sullurpeta MLA, said the YSRCP administration has made the Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) lively, serving all of the demands of farmers.
M.N. Harendhira Prasad, Joint Collector, advised farmers to invest in field mechanisation because farm equipment was available at a 40% subsidy.
However, Experts were skeptical of the idea and wonder what benefits it would bring to farmers. "Will it help farmers earn more money?" "No one wants to answer that question," Devinder Sharma, an agriculture and food policy specialist, said.Check out the entire news here.
