Drone Flying Permits for Farms: Guidelines for Rural Land

Like many industries in India, the agricultural industry is greatly benefiting from the advent of drone technology.  Initially, drones were primarily used by the military, but over time, this technology has also made its presence felt in agriculture. Talking about agriculture in India, it is mainly practiced in the rural parts of the country. With increasing awareness about this technology, farmers are embracing it and also reaping the benefits.

It is also essential to abide by all the rules and protocols established by the DGCA, as well as the Indian government, for the effective and legal operation of drones for agriculture. This blog will present guidelines and facts for getting permission to fly drones over rural land.

Drones can help farmers save a significant amount of time and reduce use of fertilizer and pesticides.  Apart from that, spraying pesticides using drones protects farmers' health, as they evade direct contact with chemicals. It is because of all these reasons that the farmers are getting inclined toward the use of drones for agricultural processes.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA establish drone operation regulations in India. The "Drone Rules 2021," implemented in August 2021, have simplified procedures for farmers and rural users. These rules require farmers to register their drones on the Digital Sky platform.

Nano Drones (up to 250 grams):  There is no need for any sort of permission to fly these drones, which are commonly used on small farms.

Micro Drones (250 grams to 2 kilograms): These drones are used for spraying pesticides and for monitoring purposes.

Small Drones (2 kilograms to 25 kilograms): These are used for large farms and performing commercial agricultural operations.

Medium and Large Drones: These types of drones are used in industrial-scale and specialized projects.

Micro and small drones are the most prevalent types used in agriculture because they meet farmers' requirements in terms of both cost and capacity.

Farmers should follow the entire process to fly drones over rural land:

• Registration – The details of the drones must be entered on the Digital Sky platform to get them registered for further use.
• UAN (Unique Identification Number) – This number is allocated to each drone, which the DGCA registers.
• Pilot Certification- A Remote Pilot Certificate is needed for operating micro, small and medium drones. This is not needed for the operation of nano drones.
• Airspace Clearance – The information about green, yellow and red zones must be obtained through the drone application before flying.
• Safety Compliance – All drones must be fortified with NPNT (No Permission – No Takeoff) technology.

• Green Zone – Drone flying is permitted in these zones at a height of up to 400 feet.
• Yellow Zone – A drone pilot is required to obtain permission from the regulatory bodies to fly drones in these zones.
• Red Zone – These areas are sensitive areas, for example, military bases, border areas and airports. Drone flying is not permitted here under any circumstances. When the entire airspace is divided into zones, drone flying is made easier because farmers have clear instructions as to where drones can be flown.

Now, let us look at some of the simple guidelines for farmers to follow for using drones:

•  A farmer should pick nano and micro drones for small farms.
• Don’t forget to check the weather and the speed of the wind before taking a drone flight.
• One should get trained from DGCA-accredited institutions before starting a drone flight for commercial use.
• An agricultural drone should have a camera and GPS, because it is the need of the hour for surveying and monitoring agricultural farms.
• A farmer should consider the safety of people and animals in the flight area.

There are more than 30 DGCA-accredited training centres in India. The training lasts 5 to 7 days. The training covers flight safety, technical infrastructure, the permitting process on the Digital Sky platform and the practical use of drones in agriculture.

Regarding the cost of the agricultural drone, it ranges from approximately 1.5 lakh to 10 lakh, depending on its size and features.

The government has launched schemes to facilitate farmers to get their hands on agricultural drones:

• There is a 40% subsidy on drone purchases by the Agricultural Ministry of India.
• Small farmers can benefit greatly from drone rental services through Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs).
• Special provisions were made in the Union Budget of 2022-23 to increase the use of agricultural drone services.

• Time Savings-The drones can help farmers to spray 1 hectare in 7-10 minutes.
• Accuracy- The use of drones helps farmers to distribute fertilizer and seed in the right proportion.
• Cost Reduction – With the use of drones, it is possible to save costs up to 20-30% savings in labour and resources.
• Health Protection – When the drones are used for spraying pesticides and insecticides, farmers can shield themselves from direct exposure to chemicals.
• Increased production- With the use of drones, farmers can help the yields increase by 15-20%.

Although drone technology is very useful for farmers, there are still some challenges:

• High cost:  The cost of purchasing an agricultural drone is on the higher side, but the solution to the same is the Government subsidies and drone rental services.
• Lack of Technical Knowledge:  If one is not trained and does not have technical knowledge in the operation of drones, then he/ she can get trained in the same in a drone training institution.
• Lack of Awareness There is often a lack of knowledge about drones and their uses in agriculture, especially in rural areas. One can stay informed about the use of drones in agriculture through the Information programs at the Panchayat level.

The government of India has set a goal to endorse the widespread use of drones in agriculture by 2030.  Indigenous drones are being developed by several companies under the “Make in India campaign.” The Indian drone industry is expected to reach approximately 30,000 crore by 2026, with the agriculture sector contributing a share of more than 20%.

With the help of training institutes and government subsidies, drones have become accessible to farmers. If drones are used, following all the legal processes, they not only increase yields but also modernize agriculture and make it more sustainable.

 If you are a farmer in rural India and want to utilize drones in agriculture, it is essential to enrol in a reputable drone training institute like Flapone Aviation. Here, you will get top-notch drone training from the best instructors and hands-on experience in operating drones.