Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Farmers Use Drones to Ease Labour Shortages and Rising Costs
Farmers in Rayalaseema are using drones to help spray crops.
Spraying by hand can take a lot of time and workers.
A drone can cover a large farm much faster.
One farmer said it took less than an hour to spray his seven-acre banana farm.
Farmers can hire drones or buy them with help from a government subsidy.
Officials say drones have been used on many farms in the region.
Farmers and officials say the machines are especially helpful for tall, closely planted crops.
Drones are also used for jobs such as watching traffic and surveying land.
Farmers in Rayalaseema are using drones to spray crops, especially in horticulture plantations.
A banana farmer said a drone sprayed his seven-acre plantation in less than an hour; hiring costs about ₹1,000 per acre.
Andhra Pradesh recorded 3.5 lakh hours of agriculture-related drone use by October 1, 2026, with nearly two lakh hours in Rayalaseema.
The state offers an 80 per cent subsidy for agricultural drones; officials said 52 drones had received subsidies in Nandyal district.
Drones have been used to spray pesticides over an estimated 30,000 hectares this year and also support traffic monitoring, surveillance and land resurvey.
- Who
- Farmers in Rayalaseema, along with agriculture officials in Andhra Pradesh.
- What
- Farmers are adopting drones to spray pesticides and reduce time and labour requirements.
- When
- Drone use was reported as growing; official usage figures are through October 1, 2026, and pesticide spraying figures cover the current year.
- Where
- Rayalaseema, including Anantapur, Kurnool, Nandyal and Kadapa districts in Andhra Pradesh.
- Why
- Farmers are using drones to address labour shortages, reduce operational difficulties and improve efficiency.
- Agricultural drone use in Andhra Pradesh
- 3.5 lakh hours by October 1, 2026
- Share of use in Rayalaseema
- Nearly two lakh hours
- Drone-hire cost
- Around ₹1,000 per acre
- Government subsidy
- 80 per cent of the purchase cost
- Subsidised drones in Nandyal district
- 52
- Estimated pesticide spraying area
- 30,000 hectares during the current year
- Reported spraying speed
- About 10 minutes per acre, according to a Nandyal district farmer