Drones in Agriculture

Drones in Agriculture

Part of: Prelims and GS III – Economy

Context Union Agriculture Minister released Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for use of Drone in Pesticide Application for Crop Protection and for spraying Soil and Crop Nutrients.

Key takeaways

• The SOP for drone regulation for pesticide application covers important aspects like statutory provisions, flying permissions, etc.
• The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) commonly known as drones have great potential to revolutionise Indian agriculture and ensure the country’s food security.
• The National drone policy has been notified and the Drone Rules 2021 have been made significantly easier for people and companies in the country to now own and operate drones.

Use of drones in Agriculture

• Multi-features: Drones are well-equipped with many features like multi-spectral and photo cameras.
• Monitor: It can be used in many areas of the agriculture sector such as monitoring crop stress, plant growth, predicting yields, and delivering props.
• Assessment: Drones can be used for assessing the health of any vegetation or crop, field areas inflicted by weeds.
• Optimisation: Based on this assessment, the exact amounts of chemicals needed to fight these infestations
• Planting systems: Drone planting systems have also been developed which allow drones to shoot pods. This technology increases consistency and efficiency of crop management.
• Mitigating attacks: The drones were also used for the first time in warding off the locust attacks in various states.

Compassionate job not a vested right: Supreme Court

Part of: Prelims and GS II – Judiciary

Context The Supreme Court has held in an order that compassionate employment is not a vested right.

• The SC said that the compassionate employment scheme was intended to enable a bereaved family tide over financial crisis caused by the untimely death of a breadwinner while in service.
• It said the authorities were allowed to use their discretion to evaluate the financial position of the family.