Hyderabad-Based Drone Start-Up Bags ‘Type Certificate’ Approval From DGCA

Marut Drones, a drone tech firm, announced on Tuesday that its AG 365 Agricopter has become the first multi-purpose, medium-category agriculture drone in India to receive the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's "type certificate" clearance.

According to the company, its Kisan Drone AG 365 has been manufactured in India and was created to aid farmers in reducing crop losses, reducing the usage of agrochemicals, increasing yields, and revenues.

With the issuance of the type certificate, purchasers of AG 365 will be qualified for Rs 10 lakh of unsecured loans from the Agri Infrastructure Fund with an interest rate of 5-6 per cent, as well as 50–100 per cent subsidy from the Indian government.

Prem Kumar Vislawath, Sai Kumar Chinthala, and Suraj Peddi, the three IIT graduates who founded the firm in 2019, also gained DGCA permission for their remote pilot training organization (RPTO).

Anyone applying for a remote pilot license under Rule 34 of the Drone Rules 2021 may receive remote pilot training from an RPTO, according to the aviation authority.

The organization added that it is partnering with important universities to train drone pilots, while the RPTO approvals will allow it to engage in training and capacity building of drone pilots focused on safe agricultural operations, repair, and maintenance.

It further noted that the company has been working with a vision to enhance agriculture and claimed that it will eliminate the problem of manual spraying, which has a detrimental effect on farmers' health.

Importance of Drones in Agriculture

In many places now, using drones has become an essential component of large-scale farming operations. One of the most popular uses of drones in agriculture is their swift movement to the desired locations. Drones with this skill can apply fertilizer and insecticides to crops to hydrate and provide them with the nutrients they need. Such additives can help crops thrive and stay healthy. To prevent worms, pests, and insects and prolong crop life, farmers have complete control over the drone spraying nutrients.

Drones can also be helpful with the time-consuming procedure of evaluating the soil's health. Drones' great ability to evaluate, diagnose, and survey crops for any deficiencies is another fantastic benefit of using them to fertilize crops. Their laser-equipped sensors and high-resolution cameras help with the quick completion of a variety of activities.