Perception of farmers towards unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Abstract

Agriculture in India is increasingly transitioning towards technology supported farming systems aimed at improving efficiency, reducing labour dependency, and ensuring timely farm operations. In this context, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based services have emerged as a promising innovation, particularly for precision spraying and crop protection activities. However, the effective adoption of UAV services depends largely on farmers’ perception, willingness to adopt, and their experiences under actual field conditions. The present study was undertaken to assess farmers’ perception, willingness, comparative efficiency, and the economic, social, cultural, and technical challenges associated with the use of UAV services in agriculture. The study was conducted in Palakkad district of Kerala and Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, representing two agriculturally important regions with differing farming systems and levels of technological exposure. An ex post facto research design was employed. A total of 160 farmers were selected using purposive random sampling, comprising 80 adopters and 80 non-adopters of UAV services, with equal representation from both districts. Primary data were collected through a structured interview schedule, supported by focus group discussions conducted at Kollengode in Palakkad district and Thennamanallur in Coimbatore district. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, perception index, independent samples t test, Mann Whitney U test, Spearman’s rank correlation, and Garrett ranking technique. The findings revealed that farmers in both districts exhibited a generally favourable perception towards UAV based spraying services. Adopters consistently recorded higher perception scores compared to non-adopters across all indicators. The highest perception index was observed for the statement related to time saving and quick completion of spraying operations, with an overall index value of 92.88. The lowest perception index (72.75) was recorded for ease of learning and operation, indicating technical apprehension, particularly among non-adopters. Awareness regarding UAV applications was largely confined to spraying and pest control, with 94.4 % and 95.0 % of respondents being aware of these functions, respectively. Awareness of advanced applications such as monitoring, mapping, irrigation, and yield estimation was minimal. The mean awareness score of 1.31 indicated limited breadth of knowledge, with farmers associating UAV technology mainly with plant protection operations. Willingness to adopt UAV services among non- adopters was found to be high in both districts. The pooled mean willingness score was 4.51 on a five-point scale, and the difference between Palakkad and Coimbatore was not statistically significant. Comparative analysis between UAV based spraying and conventional methods demonstrated the clear superiority of UAV technology. Adopters reported significantly higher mean scores for time efficiency, accuracy, spray uniformity, yield response, and cost efficiency compared to non-adopters. The Mann Whitney U test confirmed statistically significant differences between adopters and non-adopters at the 1 % level across both districts. Economic challenges were identified as the most severe challenges influencing adoption. High operational cost, limited financial support, and difficulty in affording repeated spraying recorded mean scores of 4.60, 4.53, and 4.47, respectively. Social constraints such as acceptance within the farming community and fear of misuse, and cultural challenge including traditional mindset and perceived mismatch with local practices, were also prominent. Significant district level differences were observed for social and cultural challenges. The focus group discussions reinforced these findings. Farmers in Palakkad emphasised the need for more on field demonstrations and operational guidance, while farmers in Coimbatore highlighted the importance of transparent pricing, timely availability of services during pest outbreaks, and reliable service provision. Labour scarcity, particularly in Coimbatore, increased farmers’ interest in UAV services, although affordability remained a concern. Overall, the study concludes that UAV based spraying services offer substantial advantages in terms of speed, accuracy, uniformity, and labour efficiency. While farmers exhibit positive perception and strong willingness to adopt UAV services, wider adoption depends on improving awareness of diverse applications, strengthening training and extension support, ensuring operator availability, enhancing pricing transparency, and providing financial assistance.