Drone technology in agriculture: A study on economic motivation of farmers

Abstract

The present study entitled “Drone Technology in Agriculture: A Study on Economic Motivation of Farmers” was conducted in Bhandara and Nagpur districts of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra during 2024–25. Economic motivation was treated as the dependent variable, as it plays a crucial role in influencing the adoption of drone technology by farmers. A total of 120 drone-using farmers were selected through purposive and proportionate sampling methods from five tehsils where drone usage was most prevalent. Data were collected using a pre-tested interview schedule. The results showed that a majority of respondents believed drone technology to be economically advantageous. Specifically, 73.33 percent of the farmers either agreed or strongly agreed that the economic gains from drones justify the investment and 72.50 percent considered drone adoption a smart way to gain higher returns. Furthermore, 60.00 percent of the respondents disagreed with the idea that drones are too costly for the benefits they offer, indicating that affordability was not seen as a major constraint—largely due to rental services and government subsidy schemes. Interestingly, 63.34 percent agreed that profit is not the only priority in their decision to use drones, revealing that motivational factors may include peer influence and a desire to modernize farming operations. The study concludes that most farmers perceive drone technology as a profitable and worthwhile investment, though not purely profit-driven. Enhancing the availability of affordable drone services, promoting shared usage models and expanding awareness campaigns can further strengthen the economic motivation and adoption of drone technology in Indian agriculture.