Assam is the land of tea in India. The lush green valleys and fertile soil here are very famous for tea production. The tea of Assam is known not only in India but all over the world for its taste and aroma. But taking care of these huge plantations is not an easy task. There are tea plantations spread over thousands of acres here. Caring and monitoring every plant is a very laborious and time-consuming task.
In today's time, issues like sudden alter in climate, creepy crawly invasion, spread of illnesses in plants and need of specialists have ended up indeed more challenging. In such a circumstance, agriculturists and cultivators required an innovation that would make their work less demanding. This is where the drone has given new hope. Drone technology is now giving a new look to the monitoring and management of the tea industry.
The Tea Industry of Assam
Assam is one of the largest producers of tea in the world. People here have been cultivating tea for generations.
The weather, soil and moisture here give the tea leaves the most distinct taste and colour. That is why the taste of Assam tea is strong and the color is deep. People all over the world love it.
Lakhs of individuals are related with this industry. From the workers working in the ranches to the dealers offering tea in the universal showcase, everyone's business depends on it. The tea industry plays a critical part in the economy of Assam.
Due to such a large scale of work, there are many challenges in management. In modern times, the use of new technologies has become necessary to increase production and maintain quality. And that's where drone technology comes in handy.
What is drone technology?
Drones can be called small flying craft in common language. It flies without a human being. It is called an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). This machine is operated by remote control or computer.
The drones are equipped with high-quality cameras and a variety of sensors. These cameras and sensors take pictures and videos of the ground. Some drones are specially made for farming. There is also a provision for spraying medicines and manure in them.
The specialty of the drone is that it covers a very large area in a short time. The pictures above are clearer. With this, farmers get to know immediately where there is a problem and where everything is fine.
Challenges of Traditional Surveillance in Tea Gardens
Earlier, when there were no drones, the surveillance of tea gardens was completely dependent on human labour. The workers had to go around the farm and look at every plant. A lot of time and effort went into it.
If a plant catches insects or begins to spread disease, it is too late to catch them. By the time the problem surfaced, many plants would have been affected. This will affect production and result in losses.
It was not easy to see each plant in such a large area. During the rainy season, the plantations were filled with mud and it was difficult for the labourers to go there. Even in the summer it was very difficult to work in the sun.
Apart from this, the correct calculation of production was also a challenge. The work was done by hand and there was a high probability of error. Due to all these problems, the maintenance of the gardens could not be done in a complete proper way.
Recomanded to read:- AgriTech Revolution in Assam: Smart Farming with IoT And AI
How do drones help?
Drone Technology in Agriculture
Drones have made monitoring of plantations easier and faster. The work that used to take several days is now done in a few hours. The drone takes pictures of a large area in just a few minutes.
By looking at these pictures, farmers can immediately know in which part the plants are good and where there is a problem. This will save both time and effort. Also, it makes it easier to make decisions.
Identification of plant diseases
Many kinds of diseases are spread by tea plants. If not taken care of on time, the entire garden can be affected. The special cameras on the drone capture the colour and moisture of the leaves.
Changing the color of the leaves is often a sign of disease or pest. The drone detects this change quickly. Farmers can spray the medicine immediately and avoid losses. This work used to be done in the earlier days, now it is done in hours.
The right amount of water and fertilizer
It is important to give the tea plants the right amount of water and fertilizer. If the water becomes more or less, the plants become weak.
Drones check the moisture of the soil. This information tells farmers which areas need more water. Similarly manure can also be used at the right place. This will save money and reduce costs.
Estimating production
The pictures taken from the drone show which part of the plantation will give how much production. An accurate estimate can be made by looking at the density of leaves and the health of plants.
Earlier this work used to be based on experience, but now decisions are made based on data. This makes it easier to prepare for the market and plan for exports.
Spraying of medicines and insecticides
Many drones are built in such a way that they can spray medicine or pesticides flying in the air. This is done very simply and in a very short time.
This ensures that the workers do not have to come in contact with toxic chemicals. Their health remains safe and the work also gets done quickly.
Advantages of the drone
- It saves time.
- Workers' wages are low.
- The quality of production is maintained.
- Losses and costs are reduced.
- Farmers get accurate and accurate data.
There is also a positive impact on the environment as there is less wastage of water and medicine.
Challenges and the way forward
Although drone technology is very useful, it also has some challenges in front of it.
- Drones are expensive and difficult for small farmers to buy.
- They need training.
- It is not possible to fly a drone in bad weather.
The government and private companies are working together to overcome these challenges. The facility of renting drones has been started in many places. Training programmes are also being run so that farmers can easily use this technology.
Conclusion
Drone technology in agriculture has brought a new revolution in the tea industry of Assam. Now monitoring has become easier, production estimates are accurate and plant diseases are identified in time.
This has reduced the cost of farmers and the quality of tea has improved even more. In the coming times, when this technology will be more affordable and accessible, the tea gardens of Assam will become even more modern and productive.
Assam's tea is famous all over the world. now With the help of drones, this identity will be further strengthened and the tea industry will get new heights.
