The Punjab government has allowed use of drone technology in agriculture sector with certain conditions for application of pesticides on crops, monitoring of weeds, pests and nutritional deficiencies. According to a spokesman of the provincial agriculture department, the permission to use drone technology in agriculture is a revolutionary step leading to enhancement in agricultural production.
A UAV (Unmanned Air Vehicle)/drone consist of a small unmanned aircraft and after the success of this technology it is ready to asttound the agricultural sector The spokesman said that drone/UAV technology can be usefully deployed in application of pesticides on crops, monitoring of weeds, pests and nutritional deficiencies, geographical survey of crops, area and water resources, research and development.
He said that interested farmers can apply to the Deputy Director Agriculture (Extension) in his district for NOC for the use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or drones. The concerned Deputy Director Agriculture (Extension) shall refer all cases/ applications about the use of drones for the aforementioned agriculture uses to the DIC (comprised of DC/DPO). After proper analysis and vetting, an NOC may be granted by the DIC to the applicant specifying therein the area, time and duration of use of drones.
In arriving at a decision to give permission for use of drones to a farmer, the protocols about the security of sensitive installations/ establishments shall be given due consideration, said a notification issued by the provincial government in this regard. The notification further advised that police personnel may also be attached with the operator of drone at the time of flying activity. The Deputy Director Agriculture (Extension) concerned shall inform the applicant in a timely manner about the status and outcome of the application for NOC regarding permissible agricultural use of drone/UAV and the attached conditions, the notification concludes.
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