VC Dr. Indra Mani presented Crop-Specific SOPs for Drone Application at the MoA&FW, New Delhi

The National-level meeting to finalize the report of Crop-Specific SOPs for Drone-Based Application of Soil and Plant Nutrients was conducted on 2^nd December 2024 at the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, New Delhi under the chairmanship of Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Govt. of India).

During the meeting, Dr. Indra Mani, Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani, and Chairman of the Committee on Drone-Based Nutrient Application, presented a comprehensive report on the development of Crop-Specific SOPs for the Application of Soil and Plant Nutrients through Drones.

The report highlighted the development of crop-specific, technology-driven guidelines for the precise application of various soil and plant nutrients using drone technology. This initiative is poised to revolutionize agricultural practices, enhance input efficiency, and support sustainable farming.

Shri Devesh Chaturvedi commended the Committee's dedicated efforts and assured that the final SOPs would be approved and released soon, marking a significant milestone in the promotion of drone technology in Indian agriculture. This step is expected to facilitate wider adoption of drones in agriculture, leading to higher productivity, reduced input costs, and improved environmental sustainability.

The meeting witnessed the presence of several senior officials Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda, Additional Secretary, Er. C. R. Lohi, Deputy Commissioner (M&T), Shri A. N. Meshram, Deputy Commissioner (M&T), Smt. S. Rukmani, Joint Secretary, MoA&FW, New Delhi along with committee members and experts and viz., Dr. Sunil D. Gorantiwar, Former Head, Agricultural Engineering & Director (Research), MPKV, Rahuri, Maharashtra, Dr. Dilip Kumar Kushwaha, Scientist, Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, Dr. Pravin Vaidya, Head, Department of Soil Science, VNMKV, Parbhani, Maharashtra, Dr. Pazhanivelan, Director, Water Technology Centre, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Dr. Nadimpalli Rama Gopala Varma, Principal Scientist, PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana. 

The successful finalization of these SOPs is a landmark achievement that will strengthen the role of drones in Indian agriculture, ensuring that farmers have access to precision-driven solutions for nutrient management, thereby driving the country's vision for smart and sustainable agriculture.

To promote the use of drone technology in agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, established five national-level committees to develop standardized guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for various applications. The first committee, chaired by Dr. K. Alagusundaram and convened by Dr. Indra Mani, developed comprehensive guidelines for pesticide application using drones. The second committee, chaired by Dr. Indra Mani, drafted SOPs for spraying soil and crop nutrients, while the third committee, led by Dr. Ravi Prakash, created procedures for the use of drones in applying crop protection products. The fourth committee, again chaired by Dr. Indra Mani, developed crop-specific SOPs for pesticide application for ten key crops, ensuring customized guidelines for better pest management. Currently, the fifth committee, chaired by Dr. Indra Mani, Vice-Chancellor of VNMKV, Parbhani, is formulating crop-specific SOPs for soil and plant nutrient application using drones. These efforts aim to enhance the safe, efficient, and sustainable use of drone technology in Indian agriculture, boosting productivity, promoting environmental safety, and supporting the nation’s drive toward modernized farming practices.