Kerala Agricultural University performs a successful drone-based sowing sowing test in water clear fields with water and revolutionization of traditional agriculture.
In a groundbreaking step in the direction of modernizing traditional agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University has successfully performed a test run of drone-based seed spaces in the Water Paddy fields searched with Kumbalangi.
The initiative, supported by financing the World Bank, marks an important step forward in tackling the ongoing problem of mud and flooding that hinders agriculture in Pokkali fields, said KAU functionaries.
Sowing seeds in such challenging circumstances has long been a labor -intensive task. However, the recent study showed that drones can offer a viable and efficient alternative. A drone that was able to wear and spread a maximum of 10 kg of germinated seeds, which was considered considerably reduced manual efforts and time.
The test was a joint effort from Kerala Agricultural University and the Agriculture department in collaboration with Fuselage Innovation, a startup of the next generation operating under the KAU incubation program.
Sowing seeds on one hectare rice field using the drone takes about 20 to 25 minutes, said KP Sudheer, head of the Agri-Business Incubator at KAU. This method not only saves time, but also ensures more uniform seed distribution and improved crops. In comparison with traditional methods, it makes efficient use of seeds possible, which saves up to 10 kg of seeds per hectare.
Merminaged or rumbled seeds have proven to be the most suitable for sowing the air, making better anchoring and early growth in saturated soil possible. Encouraged by success, Kau is now carrying out tests with drones with a higher capacity, with the aim of further reducing the time and efforts needed in large -scale sowing activities.
The initiative is part of Kau’s wider mission to reduce the physical burden for farmers by using advanced agricultural technologies. Drone applications such as these can cause a revolution in Paddy cultivation, especially in areas such as the Pokkali fields and the low-lying regions of Kuttanad, where conventional methods are often limited by natural conditions, he said.
The move is expected to have far-reaching implications for sustainable rice cultivation in Kerala and possibly in other states with a similar agro climate.
Devan Chandrasekharan, founder, hompinnovation said that the Pokkali ecosystem, with its salty waters and swampy terrain, is unique challenges for manual sow. However, the use of drones turned out to be incredibly effective, with a uniform seed distribution, reduced labor companies and the impressive adaptability of drone technology to these age-old cultivation methods.
“This project is not only about one successful commitment; it is about freeing the road for a sustainable and efficient future in agriculture, to equip farmers with advanced tools to stimulate productivity and promote environmental management,” he added.
Published on July 31, 2025
#Kerala #Agri #Varsity #Dosing #dronebased #sowing #Kumbalangi #Paddy #Fields