Report Overview

India Agriculture Drones market is expected to grow with increasing interest among the farmer community as well as industry player coupled with increasingly favorable government policy framework...

India Agriculture Drones Market- Industry Trends & Forecast Report 2028

As per a recent study conducted by the strategic consulting and market research firm, BlueWeave Consulting, India Agriculture Drones market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 25% during 2022 – 2028. Unlike commercial drones, agricultural drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are used in crop production for digital imaging, multispectral photos, and near-infrared views of crops. These drones have a wide range of applications in the agriculture sector, including crop analysis, field mapping, and agricultural photography. The agricultural sector has been benefiting from rising technological application across India. Drones are an ideal tool for developing future sustainable food systems. Drone skills to build 3D maps for real-time agriculture analysis are improving as technology advances. These robots have advanced imaging systems and heat sensors that can identify specific areas' water and nutrient requirements. UAVs can also plant seeds in the ground, which lowers the cost of sowing significantly.

Industry Trends

Indian government has launched 100 'Kisan Drones' across the country to spray pesticides and other farm materials. Their numbers will soon reach thousands, resulting in a massive increase in adoption. A special push for Kisan drones was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23. The budget also included funding for public-private partnerships to develop high-tech farm services. Agricultural drones provide real-time data from a variety of sensors, including multispectral, LiDAR, and NIR, to provide in-depth monitoring and analysis of crop health. Agronomists and farmers can use this real-time data to map the health of their crops and monitor their metamorphosis over time.

These products help to reduce the number of people needed for monitoring and inspection. They give farmers alternative perspectives on the crops to help them distinguish between healthy and sick crops. Because of their water resilience, they can fly in any weather situation. Agricultural drones typically fly at a height of 50-100 meters, with permissions required for drones flying at higher altitudes. They are predicted to have a broad scope in the future due to the vast number of applications that can be used to improve precision agriculture.

Growth Drivers

This labor-saving solution results in saving time. Low salaries and education will ostensibly limit labor employment in the agriculture industry, propelling the adoption of agricultural drones. Agricultural drones offer a greater ROI and savings for large agricultural firms in the medium to long term, despite their relatively higher cost, and are thus seeing widespread adoption.

Insects are responsible for significant crop losses. While this benefits the insecticides and pesticides industries, it also benefits the agricultural drones industry because UAVs are increasingly being used to spray insecticides and pesticides throughout crop fields. This cuts spraying time and effort to half compared to traditional methods. Drones also ensure that insecticides are distributed evenly over the field, keeping weeds at bay in all areas.

Market Restraints

There are problems with connectivity. Online access is unavailable across manny rural areas. In such cases, a farmer must invest in internet connectivity, which can become a recurring expense. Drones have no operational delays and can work twice as fast as humans but they rely heavily on favorable weather conditions. Drone flight is not recommended in rainy or windy conditions. Using new technology is also a refreshing change, but doing so on a daily basis necessitates the right set of skills and knowledge. A typical farmer may struggle to comprehend drone functions. He must either acquire the knowledge himself or rely on an experienced person. Agriculture drones and other smart agricultural devices interact using a variety of interfaces, technologies, and protocols.

Farmers are using smart technologies to boost agricultural yield in locations where land is restricted. Advanced camera systems and software are making it possible to keep a check on the soil health, irrigation, plant health, and crop scouting for a profit. Agriculture unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are high-tech aerial vehicles that can fly for hours over enormous farmland fields. These systems include high-priced navigation and other autonomous systems, as well as powerful high-definition cameras and other features that raise the final cost of the items. As a result, expensive product qualities are projected to stifle market expansion over the projection period. Nevertheless, the government schemes and subsidiaries are working towards making it accessible.

Impact of COVID-19

The epidemic has resulted in an unexpected demand for various types of farm machinery in numerous nations, particularly for labor-intensive jobs. For several months, labor shortages caused by the pandemic have impeded the smooth flow of supply chains, resulting in yield losses and poor productivity. Because of the halt in economic activity, the market was also negatively impacted. However, the need for agricultural robots, machines, drones, and automated equipment is now reviving. The increasing demand for automated seeding drones, fertilizer sprayers, and mini drone planting will drive market growth in the coming years.

Regional Insights

State governments in Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh are collaborating with drone manufacturers, farmer producer organizations, and state agriculture universities to develop fertilizer spraying drones. The state governments are also collaborating with state universities to help farmers become acquainted with the use of drones.

Competitive landscape

Some of the leading players in the agricultural drones market include Mahindra Group, Garuda Aerospace, Thanos India,  Throttle Aerospace Systems Pvt. Ltd (TAS), Paras Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., Garuda Aerospace, General Aeronautics Pvt Ltd, Asteria Aerospace Limited, Aarav Unmanned Systems Pvt Ltd., and General Aeronautics. To grab a share in the pie, these companies are increasing their focus on product innovation, collaboration, strategic acquisitions and new growth models.

Recent Developments

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have granted permission for drone operations via the conditional exemption route. The DGCA recently established new drone directorates in order to expedite the approval process. Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the use of drones in pesticide and nutrient application in December 2021.

Scope of the Report

By Offering

• Fixed Wing
• Rotary Wing
• Hybrid Wing

By Application

• Soil and Field Analysis
• Crop Monitoring
• Health Assessment
• Irrigation
• Crop Spraying
• Aerial Planting

By Size

• Small
• Medium
• Large

By Region

• North
• South
• West
• East