In a major push toward smart agriculture, Government has launched drone-based crop protection in six districts of Uttar Pradesh, marking a transformative step in modernising farming practices. Under a pilot initiative rolled out in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Bahraich, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad, and Kanpur Nagar, drones are now being used to spray nano urea and pesticides—dramatically reducing time, labour, and input costs while boosting productivity.

These high-efficiency drones can cover up to 12 acres per hour, allowing for faster and more precise crop care. Implemented under the Atmanirbhar Krishak Samanvit Vikas Yojana and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), the move is part of the state’s broader strategy to double farmers’ income through technological interventions.

So far, nine drone projects have been initiated—two each in Gorakhpur, Bahraich, and Muzaffarnagar, and one each in the remaining districts. In parallel, the government is training farmers to operate drones and adopt modern agri-practices, ensuring smoother on-ground implementation and long-term sustainability.

The use of drones not only ensures timely and uniform application of nutrients and crop protection agents but also facilitates real-time crop health monitoring, a critical factor in mitigating losses due to pest or nutrient issues. The UP government plans to scale this initiative to more districts in the coming months, signalling a bold shift towards science-led agriculture.

With this pioneering initiative, Uttar Pradesh is positioning itself at the forefront of India’s agri-tech revolution—blending innovation with grassroots empowerment to reshape the future of farming.