Inauguration of Drone Flight and Research Scheme at Rice Section, ARI, PJTSAU, Hyderabad on 24-09-2020

The drone flight and research scheme was inaugurated by Sri Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, IT and Industries & Commerce of Government of Telangana and Dr. Janardhan Reddy, APC & Secretary Dept. of Agriculture, Government of TS on 24.09.2020 at the Rice section in Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar. Vice Chancellor PJTSAU Dr. V. Praveen Rao, Director of Research, PJTSAU Dr.R. Jagadeeshwar, Registrar PJTSAU Dr. S.Sudheer Kumar and other unversity officers and scientists were present in the program. later, Dr Janardhan Reddy and Mr Jayash ranjan were observed the functioning of Drone. PJTSAU has taken up studies covering five majors crops of Telangana viz., Rice, Cotton, Redgram, Soybean and Groundnut occupying > 95% of the cropped area in the state, to generate standard operating procedures. The cropped area covered under Cotton (59.84 lakh acres), Paddy (51.0 lakh acres), Redgram (10.0 lakh acres) and Soybean (3.97 lakh acres) during Vanakalam 2020 as on 16.9.2020. These studies are planned to conduct research work at Rice (RRC, Rajendranagar), Cotton (RARS, Warangal), Groundnut (RARS, Palem) and Redgram (ARS, Tandur) and also in selected farmers fields during Vaanakalm 2020 and Yasangi 2020-21 with the following objectives. To study and standardize drone operating procedures for plant protection. To evaluate the efficacy of pesticides against various insect pests and diseases and develop crop specific SOPs for pesticide use by drones. Identifying special chemical formulations, adjuvants and optimize their dosages.