Bayer agro initiates drone trials in Hyderabad, India

Hyderabad, Nov 23 (UNI) : Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of healthcare and agriculture, on Tuesday announced it has conducted its first drone trial at its multi-crop breeding center in Chandipa, near Hyderabad.

The on-ground event, showcasing a field demonstration on the use of drones in agricultural operations, was attended by eminent partners and industry stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
Adopting digital technologies such as drones, can help overcome these obstacles and support more targeted applications of insect, weed and disease-control products. This ensures correct dosage and also limits the risk of accidental exposure to chemicals, the company said in a release.
Besides, drones also offer real-time agronomic advisory to farmers, enhancing farm productivity and fostering sustainability.
Bayer has been working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Civil Aviation, industry bodies, regulators, policymakers and drone manufacturers over the last few years to introduce a conducive policy framework for the implementation of drone technology in Indian agriculture.
With the recent encouraging announcement made by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, all stakeholders related to the segment are eagerly looking forward to the swift adoption of drone technology.
Bayer has now secured approvals to conduct R and D and agriculture spraying operations to make the drone technology available for smallholders.
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar , who shared a message on this occasion, said, “I’m really happy to learn that Bayer is organizing a pilot project on the use of drones in agriculture. India is making giant strides in technology and digitalization and adopting these for enhancing agricultural purposes is a step forward in our efforts to provide a strong impetus to farmers’ prosperity.
Usage of drones in agriculture will revolutionize farm operations and empower our farmers, especially the smallholders with information and applications that will help them enhance their yields and income in the long run, the Union Minister said.
The Union Minister also appreciated Bayer’s efforts in early adoption of this technology for the growth and transformation of agriculture in India.
‘We look forward to seeing the commercial application of agri-drones for the betterment of our
Farmers’, said Amber Dubey, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Bayer Crop Science Limited CEO and Managing Director D. Narain, said, drone applications are operating in other small farmer countries in Asia and have the potential to deliver significant value to smallholders in India, as well as for the economy and the planet. We are proud of the results of our drone trial in Hyderabad. It showcases the potential of the future of farming and we are grateful to play a role in bringing a positive, revolutionary change to this vital agriculture sector in India.
Bayer has partnered with innovative drone startup, General Aeronautics Pvt. Ltd and conducted several in-house and external R and D trials with universities and central research institutions to generate data to make drone-based services available to farmers, said Narain.
Based on the initial achievements of drone farming, growers may be able to explore the technology’s capabilities in aiding paddy, corn, sugarcane, wheat, vegetables, fruits and plantation crops and harvests in the future, Narian added.