Blending traditional farming with cutting-edge technology, a remarkable breakthrough has been achieved in Kerala. The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has successfully conducted a drone-based seed sowing trial in the waterlogged paddy fields of Kumbalangi. This innovation brings much-needed relief to farmers struggling with swampy, muddy fields.
The drone used during the trial was capable of carrying up to 10 kilograms of sprouted seeds and dispersing them uniformly across the field. This technology has significantly reduced manual labor and saved time. The initiative is collaboration between KAU, the State Agriculture Department, and Fuselage Innovations a startup incubated under the university’s Agribusiness Incubation Program.
According to K.P. Sudheer, Head of the Agribusiness Incubator at KAU, the drone can sow seeds in one acre within just 20 to 25 minutes. Besides saving time, it ensures uniform seed distribution, which in turn enhances crop productivity. This method also saves around 10 kilograms of seeds per acre when compared to traditional sowing techniques.
Encouraged by this success, KAU is now working on testing higher-capacity drones to enable sowing on a larger scale. The goal is to reduce farmers’ input costs and guide them toward more sustainable and profitable farming practices. Sudheer believes this technology could revolutionize paddy cultivation in the near future.
Effective in Saline and Marshy Fields:
Devan Chandrasekharan, Founder of Fuselage Innovations, explained that ecosystems like Pokkali known for saline water and marshy soils pose challenges for manual sowing. With drone technology, uniform sowing has now become feasible in such terrains, significantly reducing the dependency on manual labor.
Not Just Technology, but a Foundation for the Future:
Chandrasekharan added that this is more than just a technical experiment it’s a step toward sustainable and efficient agriculture. The aim is to equip farmers with advanced tools, improve productivity, and protect the environment.
This initiative is not only a milestone for Kerala but could also inspire other states across India where paddy cultivation faces geographical challenges. Drone technology is now poised to take farming to new heights quite literally.
Read More- Paddy cultivation methods and Sowing
