Tatarstan is scaling up the use of drones in agriculture, reports NTA-Privolzhye. If last year agricultural drones and light aircraft treated 40.5 thousand hectares, then in 2026 the area is planned to be increased to 100 thousand hectares, according to the Ministry of Agriculture of the republic.
About 50 aircraft are involved in the work — drones and light aviation. They are used for crop treatment, application of mineral fertilizers, and monitoring the condition of fields.
The main advantage of the technology is the absence of mechanical damage to plants. According to the department, this allows preserving the harvest and additionally obtaining an average of 5 centners per hectare.
In the future, agricultural drones can completely change the approach to field work: they themselves survey crops, identify problem areas, and treat them with accuracy down to a centimeter. This not only saves resources but also allows for a quick response to changes — from the appearance of pests to a lack of moisture. In the context of personnel shortages and growing demands for the efficiency of the agro-industrial complex, agricultural drones can become a key element of "smart" agriculture.