Sircilla farmers use drone to spray urea, DAP

The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) has provided a drone worth Rs 12 lakh as well as a battery autorickshaw worth Rs.2 lakh. PACS employee Narsaiah was also given training in the operation of drones by IFFCO.

Rajanna-Sircillla: It is a known fact that shortage of labourers is a major problem in the agriculture sector. Vexed over the labour shortage, farmers have started adopting new technologies to overcome the problem.

As part of this, the Pothgal Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society in Mustabad mandal came up with an innovative idea to help its members. Instead of the old manual method, a drone is being used to spray Nano Urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) to standing crops. The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) has provided a drone worth Rs 12 lakh as well as a battery autorickshaw worth Rs.2 lakh. PACS employee Narsaiah was also given training in the operation of drones by IFFCO.

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It became more helpful to farmers since the standing crop spread in an acre of land is being covered within ten minutes. Besides time, expenditure has also been reduced with the usage of drones. Rs.350 is being charged to spray Nano Urea, DAP and other pesticides to standing crops spread in an acre of land. If farmers approach the PACS, the society staff would take urea and DAP bags to the fields in their autorickshaw and spray them. Farmers from 14 villages falling under Pothgal PACS are utilizing the drone.

PACS Chairman Tanniru Bapu Rao said that there was a huge response from farmers for drones and a number of farmers were utilising the facility since it was less expensive and time saving. The PACS, which was providing 260 services to its members, focused on the utilization of modern technology.

Responding to the development, BRS working president and Sircilla MLA KT Rama Rao congratulated the PACS.

“Am proud that a PACS (Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society) in Pothgal village of Siricilla constituency has started leveraging drone technology. My compliments to Chairman Bapu Rao Garu & his directors. Special thanks to Karimnagar District Cooperative Bank Chairman Konduru Ravinder Rao,” he said in a post on X.