This study evaluates the efficiency of drone-assisted pesticide application in paddy cultivation, focusing on time and water use efficiency compared to traditional manual spraying methods. The field trials, conducted in Needamangalam, Tamil Nadu, utilized the Tejas 10.1 drone for pesticide application over a 9 ac area. Findings revealed that drone spraying significantly outperforms manual knapsack sprayers in both efficiency and resource conservation. The drone covered 9 ac in just 1.2 hrs compared to 34.3 hrs required for manual spraying, demonstrating a 28.6-fold increase in time efficiency. Water consumption was reduced to one third with drone application requires only 72 L versus 240 L for manual spraying. Additionally, drone spraying minimized pesticide wastage through precise targeting, ensuring uniform coverage and reducing environmental impact. Drone application reduced the labour requirement to one sixth- this highlights the technology’s potential to address labour shortage. However, widespread adoption faces challenges, including high initial investment costs, technical expertise requirements and regulatory restrictions. To promote accessibility, policy support, financial incentives and targeted training programs are recommended. This study underscores the potential of drones to revolutionize pesticide application in agriculture, making it more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable. Further research should explore AI integration and regulatory frameworks to enhance large-scale adoption.
