Karimnagar: Drone rentals rise as farmers adopt nano urea amidst urea crisis

Facing a severe urea shortage, farmers in Karimnagar are queuing overnight at fertiliser shops and increasingly turning to nano urea as an alternative. With drones essential for its application, demand for drone services has surged, prompting support from PACSs and private operators.

Karimnagar: With urea shortage troubling farmers, many are not only forced to stand in long queues outside fertiliser shops but also spend nights there to secure supplies.

While most farmers continue to face hardships, some are turning to nano urea as an alternative. Earlier ignored despite appeals from agriculture officials, nano urea is now gaining acceptance due to the shortage of conventional urea.

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Since drones are vital for spraying nano urea, demand for them has surged this season. Farmers, unable to find enough drones locally, are bringing them in from neighbouring mandals and districts. Veenavanka farmers, for instance, are sourcing drones from Jammikunta, Manakondur, Shankarapatnam and even from Peddapalli district.

Hiring drones is also proving costly. Farmers are charged Rs. 400 per hour, with the machines capable of covering four to five acres in that time.

To promote nano urea usage, the agriculture department and organisations like IFFCO are supporting Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS). Pothgal PACS in Mustabad mandal, for example, was provided with a Rs. 12 lakh drone, a Rs. 2 lakh battery-powered autorickshaw and training for a staff member in drone operations. Similar assistance has been extended to PACSs in Jagtial and other parts of erstwhile Karimnagar district.

Besides PACSs, some private individuals have purchased drones at their own expense and are operating them for farmers.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Manda Rajamallaiah, a farmer from Gopalpur in Karimnagar, said farmers were shifting towards nano urea due to the acute shortage.

“There are more benefits in using nano urea compared to urea. Agriculture officials should conduct more awareness programmes to educate farmers and clear their doubts,” he said.

Nano urea is also cheaper. While a bag of urea costs Rs. 242, a half-litre bottle of nano urea is priced at Rs.150.