Rs 900 per acre! High-speed 'Kisan Drone' working wonders in Kerala

THRISSUR: Just seven minutes. It is all that is required for the drone to make a high-speed entry into a one-acre paddy field to sow rice seeds. Not just dismantling enemy positions along borders, the drone marvel has now reached the fields of Pullazhi Kole wetlands in Thrissur.

The drone, brought in from Coimbatore, belongs to 41-year-old Raheed Usman, a native of Vadanappally. By filling its 20-kilogram capacity tank twice, the drone was able to complete the sowing process across one acre in just seven minutes. A three-member team, including a technician, operates the drone.

Although the Agricultural University in Thrissur, the Rice Research Centre in Kuttanad, and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Kottayam had previously used drones to sow paddy seeds, the process took 10–15 minutes per acre. Raheed has since expanded his drone operations to locations including Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Malappuram.

Raheed, a former expatriate, launched the drone venture five years ago. He began with a single drone, involving an investment of Rs 15 lakh. Today he operates six. Raheed also successfully introduced the 'Kisan Drone'—equipped with a 10-litre tank capacity—which is capable of spraying pesticides over agricultural fields.

The charge for sowing paddy on one acre using a drone is Rs 900. Orders for less than 10 acres will not be accepted. However, an exception is made for Thrissur—the operator's home district—where orders for as little as three acres are accepted.