Agri(Vaial) imparts training for students about the use of Drones in organic farming
For the first time in Tamil Nadu VIT School of Agricultural Innovations and Advanced Learning (VAIAL) imparts training for students about the use of Drones in organic farming Vellore Institute of Technology School of Agricultural Innovations and Advanced Learning (VAIAL) has started imparting training to students and farmers in the use of drones for bio-pesticide application under organic paddy cultivation.
The programme aims to create awareness about the application of drones in organic paddy cultivation among farmers of Vellore district and impart hands-on training to the final year students of VIT School of Agricultural Innovations and Advanced Learning as part of their crop production course.
It is for the first time that hands-on training is imparted to students about the use of drones for bio-pesticide spraying in organic paddy cultivation.
Several farmers from Vellore district and final year students of B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture of VIT School of Agricultural Innovations and Advanced Learning took part in the drone demonstration on Monday.
As part of the programme, a field demonstration on using drones for spraying of bio-pesticide-Neem Seed Kernel Extract for controlling sucking pests (stem borer, gall midge and earhead bug) and storage pests (Grain moth, rice weevil and grain borer) in Paddy was conducted.
Drones are now becoming a potential tool in providing real time and high-resolution aerial imageries of agricultural fields with minimal influence on the growing crop. These systems can be used throughout the crop growing season to identify problems in the field precisely and make management decisions.
Dr. S. Babu, Dean, VIT School of Agricultural Innovations and Advanced Learning (VAIAL) explained about the applications of drone in agriculture especially in organic paddy cultivation. He also highlighted the importance and use of organic inputs in Paddy for enhancing soil health.
Dr. R. Thirumalaikumar, Assistant Professor (Agronomy), VAIAL briefed about the organic cultivation practices for paddy and technical details regarding the application of drones in precision farming. Besides, the final year agriculture students of VAIAL narrated their experiences gained during the organic Paddy cultivation in the crop production course.
The demonstration of drone was conducted in association with Garuda Aerospace Private Limited, Chennai.
Technical booklets published by VAIAL were distributed to farmers during the training programme.
