PDRL’s AeroGCS drives drone spraying across 3 crore acres in India

New Delhi: PDRL is setting a new standard in agricultural operations with its advanced AeroGCS software. This innovative platform is now being utilized by around 70% of agriculture drone manufacturers, underpinning the IFFCO Drone Spraying initiative, which aims to cover an impressive 3 crore acres of farmland across India.

The initiative is part of IFFCO’s broader campaign to enhance agricultural productivity using advanced Nano Fertilizers. IFFCO is rolling out a substantial program featuring 1270 demonstrations of Nano DAP and 200 trials of Nano Urea Plus across 413 districts. These efforts are designed to offer a more sustainable nitrogen supply, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change while advancing smart agriculture practices. The project involves spraying 245 lakh acres using drones, to benefit approximately 500 lakh acres of farmland.

PDRL’s AeroGCS, a “Made in India” ground control station software, is playing a pivotal role in this initiative. The platform, including its AeroGCS GREEN and AeroGCS Enterprise versions, is transforming aerial spraying operations. AeroGCS GREEN, tailored for agricultural spraying, provides advanced features for precise crop management and protection, while AeroGCS Enterprise supports large-scale operations with sophisticated flight management tools. This includes accurate flight logs, performance reports, and real-time synchronization, ensuring efficient and effective spraying operations.

The adoption of AeroGCS technology is set to significantly benefit farmers by reducing the time required for spraying from weeks to hours, thereby enhancing efficiency and increasing crop yields. The technology also reduces reliance on manual labor, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for farmers. With India’s agricultural landscape spanning approximately 40 crore acres, the potential for scaling drone-based spraying operations is vast.

The impact of this technology extends beyond immediate agricultural benefits. Industry experts predict that the drone spraying market in India could reach $5 billion in the coming years, reflecting the sector’s robust growth potential. PDRL’s AeroGCS Enterprise has already demonstrated substantial improvements in crop yields and operational efficiency through various case studies.

PDRL’s CEO, Anil Chandaliya, highlighted the transformative potential of drone technology in Indian agriculture. “At PDRL, we see drone technology as a transformative force for India’s farming sector. PDRL is a pioneer in drone technology with AeroGCS GREEN and AeroGCS Enterprise, which provide real-time analytics to enhance crop management and protection through precision spraying for healthier crops. This will enable the lives of over 1 crore farmers by increasing their productivity by 20% and supporting the growth of the agricultural sector. Through this initiative, we not only aim to enhance agricultural efficiency but also to promote sustainable practices like Nano Urea, an advanced nanotechnology-based agri-input promoted by IFFCO.”