Marut Drones empowers farmers in Tamil Nadu with Drone as a Service
In a pioneering move to modernize farming practices, farmers in Tamil Nadu are adopting drone technology to improve their agricultural productivity and overcome challenges faced by traditional farming methods. By using AG365 agriculture drones to spray fertilizers and pesticides for a variety of crops especially coconut and paddy, farmers are not only enhancing their own farm’s efficiency but also helping other local farmers with Drone as a Service.
“Precision drones are being embraced by farmers in Tamil Nadu, with our farmers leading the way," says Prem Kumar Vislawath, CEO and Co-Founder of Marut Drones, a leading drone manufacturing company. "Our drones assist farmers in various tasks, including land mapping, field preparation, crop monitoring, and precise spraying of fertilizers and pesticides. This not only boosts productivity by 30%, but also reduces costs associated with fertilizers, pesticides, and water by 70%."
Vishnu Raj – a paddy farmer from Palakkad district who holds a B. Com degree, is pushing locals in his district to adopt drone technology. He started using Marut’s agriculture drones to spray 10 acres of land he owns, after witnessing the significant benefits, he extended the "Drone as a Service" to nearby farmers, charging an affordable rate of ₹400 per acre and spraying up to 5-6 acres daily. This approach has proven to be both cost-effective and time-efficient. Anathan Balasupramanian, another farmer from Thanjavur has been learning about drones firsthand through Marut’s on ground demonstrations was intrigued by the potential of drones to transform farming. With the support of government subsidies aimed at encouraging technological adoption in agriculture, he purchased the drone, which has since been a game-changer for farmers in nearby villages who are adopting drone as a service.
Vishnu Raj says, “Previously, it would take us around 4 hours to apply fertilizers across 1 acre of land, using 8-9 tanks. Now, with the drone, we can complete the same task in just 30-45 minutes, using only 3 tanks. This significant reduction in time and resource usage has allowed us to increase our income while saving both water and labor costs.”
In just 2-3 months of offering drone as a service, farmers like Vishnu and Anathan have seen a tangible impact. Farmers have embraced the convenience of Marut’s DAAS without the financial burden of owning and maintaining drones. Motivated by the lack of drone pilots in the region, Vishnu has trained himself to operate drones and chose Marut Drones for their reliability and efficient maintenance services.
Under the Union govt`s SMAM guidelines, SC/ST, small, marginal, and women farmers can receive a 50% subsidy on Kisan drones, up to 5 lakhs, while other farmers get 40% or 4 lakhs. The subsidy also applies to purchases through custom hiring centers. Since the last fiscal, 18 drones have been operated under the scheme, 25 more approved for distribution. The use of dronenes in Palakkad district has not only solved labor-related problems but has also contributed to water conservation and a reduction in pesticide usage, leading to minimized health risks for laborers.
Marut Drones is working on ground to bring awareness of the various government schemes and subsidies that are encouraging farmers to adopt drone technology. The subsidies are crucial in making the technology more accessible and affordable. actively collaborating with Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to foster greater understanding of drone applications in agriculture. Through on-ground demonstrations in remote regions, Marut Drones is educating farmers about how drones can enhance productivity, driving the adoption of drone technology among farmers and ensure its widespread acceptance in the agricultural sector.
As the Indian government pushes for self-reliance (atmanirbharta) and widespread adoption of drone technology, success stories like Vishnu Raj underscore the immense potential of drones to revolutionize farming and empower rural communities.
