Palampur- Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister, Prof. Chandra Kumar said drones in the agriculture industry would benefit farmers.
Speaking at the two days long drone festival at Agricultural University, Palampur, he said it aimed to showcase the potential of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in transforming farming practices to maximize efficiency and increase farmers' income.
Prof. Chandra Kumar emphasized the importance of utilizing drone technology in agricultural research and urged scientists and researchers at the Agricultural University to take their findings from the lab to the field. This approach would ensure that farmers benefit from the latest advancements in drone technology.
He acknowledged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh's emphasis on adopting drone technology in the state.
The Drone Utsav at Palampur was deemed as a crucial step in that direction. The government plans to introduce drone courses in prestigious institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to train aspiring youth in this field.
Drones offer an array of applications in the agriculture sector.
They can assist in conducting field surveys, seeding over large areas, monitoring livestock, and estimating crop yield. By employing UAVs, farmers can save valuable time and increase their overall income.
Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Ashish Butail, suggested incorporating drone technology in the mapping and developmental work of Palampur Municipal Corporation. He proposed forming clusters to make drones accessible to farmers and gardeners for tasks such as pesticide spraying and seed planting.
Gokul Butail, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information Technology and Innovation, expressed his support for maximizing the use of drone technology across all departments.
He commended the Department of Information Technology for its commendable work and predicted that Himachal Pradesh would become the first state in the country to extensively utilize drone technology.
The event featured a drone exhibition.
The deployment of drones in the agriculture industry can revolutionize farming practices, enabling in-time healthcare services in remote areas, providing quick responses during emergencies, facilitating the transportation of time-sensitive goods, and contributing to environmental sustainability.
Secretary of Digital Technology and Governance, Dr. Abhishek Jain, welcomed the chief guest and provided detailed information about the Himachal Drone Conclave.
