‘Naidu govt promoting drone technology in farm sector’

Minister for Agriculture K Atchannaidu has stated that the coalition government led by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu is committed to advancing agricultural mechanisation and effectively implementing drone technology in farming practices. He emphasised that modern technology would be used for soil testing, calling it essential for improving crop yield.
The ‘Abhyudaya Rythu Puraskaram – 2025’ ceremony, jointly organised by Vignan’s University and Rythu Nestham Foundation, honoured 250 progressive farmer couples from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as part of Sankranti celebrations on Saturday. Minister Atchannaidu presented awards and felicitated the farmers. He highlighted that drone technology has significantly benefited agriculture by enabling precise pesticide spraying only in affected areas, reducing damage from pests. He noted that drones, once used primarily for events like weddings, have now become valuable in farming.
The minister urged farmers to adopt drone technology and conduct soil tests before planting crops, assuring that the government would provide comprehensive soil test reports using satellite and cloud technology.
He added that organic crops can better withstand floods and storms and that organic fertilisers are in high demand. Atchannaidu also announced subsidies for drip irrigation and sprinklers and emphasised that automation tools are now available to help farmers manage crops from seed to sale.
Narasaraopet MP and Vignan’s Vice Chairman Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu encouraged farmers to double crop yields and reduce water and chemical usage by adopting innovative methods.
He noted that the university motivates students to focus on agriculture with specialised labs and faculty from across the country.
Dr Lavu Rathaiah, Chairman of Vignan, stressed the importance of new technologies in agriculture and advocated a gradual increase in organic farming, citing Sri Lanka’s challenges with a sudden shift.
He also recommended integrating AI and IoT in farming to provide real-time updates on pest control and crop health through mobile phones.