Krishi Vigyan Kendra Ranga Reddy District, ICAR - Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) organized a 5-day skill development Program on Agricultural Drones and Nano Fertilizers from 24 to 28th February 2025 at KVK, Hayathanagar, Hyderabad.

The programme was inaugurated on 24th February 2025 by Dr. I. Srinivas, Principal Scientist & OIC Hyatnagar Research Farm (HRF) and Dr Chandrakant M.H, Senior Scientist cum Head, KVK Ranga Reddy. During his welcome address, the Head, KVK highlighted the use and importance of Drones in agricultural operations.

Dr I. Srinivas briefed about the importance of IoT tools in agriculture. The training covered various aspects viz., Use & importance of drones in agriculture & horticulture operations; Importance of farm machinery and IoT technologies; Soil test-based fertilizer applications; Importance of Nano Fertilizer; Drone Guidelines for Pest Management in Crops; Standard drone spray protocols for crop protection; Govt. schemes under Drone project and eligible criteria.

Thirty (30) trainees including agriculture officers, field officers, and NGO representatives participated in the training programme.

The programme included hands-on & practical sessions on operation of drone demonstrating fertilizer / pesticide spraying in various crops at Hayathanagar Research Farm. Practical and demonstration classes on drones, IoT machines, and farm machines /implements were conducted by Dr. I Srinivas, PS & OIC (HRF) with the assistance of Mr. Golla Raju, Technician. and various machines were shown to the trainees and practical training was arranged.

Various theory /Practical classes were also conducted by Dr DBV Ramana, Principal Scientist & OIC Gunegal Research Farm (GRF); Mr. Venkateswarlu, Project Director ATM; Dr. Timmanna; Dr. B. Bhargavi; Dr. A. Gopal Krishna Reddy, and other associated Scientists & Staff of CRIDA & KVK.

The program also included a field visit to Hayatnagar Research Farm (HRF), Farm Machinery Workshop, and Experimental Plots.

The valedictory function was held on 28th February 2025 in which Dr. I. Srinivas, PS & OIC (HRF) and Dr. DBV Ramana, PS & OIC (GRF) participated as President and Chief Guest, respectively.

Shri Krupa Shankar, State Marketing Manager (SMM), IFFCO, Telangana graced the occasion as Guest of Honor.

Dr. Chandrakant M. H., Sr. Scientist & Head, KVK welcomed the guests. Dr. S Vijaya Kumar, Training Coordinator presented a brief report of the training program. On this occasion, a book (in Telugu language; Authors: Dr. S. Vijay Kumar and others) titled “The Importance of Drones in Agriculture” was released.

The dignitaries distributed the certificate of successful completion of training to 30 trainees. The meeting ended with vote of thanks by Dr. Gautam Veer Chauhan, SMS (Agronomy), KVK, Ranga Reddy.