Prospects and challenges of drone technology in sustainable agriculture

Drones have emerged as a viable precision agriculture technology that can help achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) by enhancing sustainable farming practices, increasing food security and reducing environmental impact. This review paper aims to thoroughly examine the various applications of drone technology, including crop health monitoring, pesticide and fertilizer spraying, weed control and data-driven decision-making for farm optimization. It emphasizes the role of drones in precision spraying, promoting targeted interventions and minimizing environmental impact compared to conventional methods. Drones play a vital role in weed management and crop health assessment. The study emphasizes the relevance of data collected by drones for decision-making concerning irrigation, fertilization and overall farm management. However, using Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in agriculture faces challenges caused by batteries and their life, flight time and connectivity, particularly in remote areas. There are legal challenges whereby regulatory frameworks and restrictions are present in different regions that affect the operation of drones. With the help of continuous research and development initiatives, the challenges depicted above could be solved and the fullest potential of drones can be tapped for achieving sustainable agriculture.