Agriculture drones cleared for night missions

BENGALURU: India’s aviation regulator has approved the agriculture ministry’s request to operate drones at night and use engine-powered drones instead of battery-operated ones, to combat the spread of desert locusts in the western and central states.ET reported on Monday that the agriculture ministry had sought approvals for night-time operation of drones as locusts were most inactive after sunset, and for using fuel-powered drones because they could remain airborne for longer and also carry heavier payloads than battery-operated models.India is the first country in the world to utilise drones in anti-locust operations and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has lauded the agriculture department’s work in fighting locusts using the latest technology. “Congratulations to the agriculture ministry for receiving the approvals for night operation of drones and use of engine-powered drones with all-up weight up to 50 kg for anti-locust ops. This is the first such instance in India,” Amber Dubey, joint secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, wrote in a public post. The approval comes a little over a month after the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS), which is under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, was made the nodal agency for using drones in anti-locust operations.According to the latest order, the agriculture department can use drones with payloads of up to 50 kg from the earlier limit of 25 kg. These engine-powered drones will have three times the flight time and will be able to carry 60% more pesticides than those currently in use.

from Economic Times https://ift.tt/2YJb225