Agnishwar Jayaprakash (Garuda Aerospace): Agri-Drones & Precision Farming

Short Summary

Agri-drones are no longer pilot projects — they have become a mainstream farm input across India. According to Agnishwar, the shift happened due to labour shortages, government subsidies, and farmers accepting drones as a reliable spraying service.

Adoption is highest in paddy, cotton, sugarcane, banana and grapes. Service-model drones dominate, allowing small farmers to access precision spraying without owning hardware.

Key ROI drivers include 60–70% labour savings, 90% less water, 20–30% chemical reduction, and timely spraying that protects yield.

The future “Agri-Drone 3.0” will include autonomous operations, variable-rate spraying, swarm missions, and integration with insurance + advisory systems.