MARGAO The Agri Drone hovered over the fields of Pedda in Varca village on Thursday as the Paddy Man, Fr George Quadros and his team descended in the coastal village at the invitation of farmers and local youth to give a boost to agriculture.

After Varca Parish Priest, Fr Louis Alvares and Assistant Parish Priest Stifan Rebello offered prayers in the presence of village Sarpanch Salesiana Fernandes, panchayat members and farmers, the drone took off as Fr Quadros conducted a demo to the farmers on its functioning.

Explaining the salient features of the Agri Drone, Fr Quadros pointed out that the drone is just an instrument at the command of the farmer, saying the drone will carry out the functions desired by the farmers. “The drone will carry organic, inorganic, fertilisers, pesticides as desired by the farmers,” he said, while asserting that farmers will benefit in a big way as the cost of fertilisers sprayed by the drone will be 50 per cent less as compared to manual method of putting urea.

He added: “The drone will also save the soil as it will not turn acidic compared to the traditional method of use of urea. It will preserve the nutrition of the soil since the fertiliser will not fall on the ground, but will land on the leaves of the plant. The plant will absorb the fertiliser through the leaves.”

Saying the drone will take care of paddy in a scientific manner, Fr Quadros said it will cost the farmer around Rs 30 paisa per square metre for use of drone with the fertiliser. Right now, Don Bosco is providing the subsidy. “The government is in the process of coming out with a subsidy for drones in a big way,” he added.

The drone can cover around 4,000 square metre fields in just 10 minutes. It goes right up to 100 metres and comes back and goes up to the height of 30 metres. “The drone can cover areca nut and coconuts plantations, but right now we are concentrating on bringing paddy under cultivation,” he said, while thanking the Varca village panchayat for giving the permission to hold the demo.

While welcoming Fr Quadros and his team, Varca Sarpanch Salesiana said the Varca panchayat will act as a facilitator to help the farmers go in for the drone technology.

A local farmer Mervyn Menezes informed that he and other youth got Fr Quadros to Varca village to hold the demo of the drone so that the technology can be adopted in the paddy fields. “We were happy that local farmers have evinced keen interest in the technology,” he said.

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