Drones Revolutionize Farming Salam Kisan Boosts Yields and Cuts Costs

Agriculture is the backbone of India, yet traditional spraying methods waste up to 40% of pesticides due to runoff and evaporation. In contrast, drones ensure targeted application, significantly reducing pesticide wastage, cutting costs, and minimizing environmental impact. Farmers across different regions are now experiencing a revolutionary shift with Salam Kisan’s drone spraying technology—a solution that is transforming crop protection and farm productivity. Salam Kisan has already covered over 80,000 acres across Maharashtra, empowering 300,000+ farmers to transition to precision agriculture.

Faster, More Efficient, and Cost-Effective Crop Protection

For Swapnil Bhalkar, a soybean farmer, drone spraying has been a game-changer. “The drone spraying service was excellent. Soybean yields increased by 20% while pesticide use dropped by 30%, leading to better growth, flowering, and fruiting. A task that previously required three to five laborers an entire day was completed in just one hour. This method not only ensures higher yields but also reduces input costs. I highly recommend it to fellow farmers.”

Similarly, farmers from Bordharan Bori village have witnessed firsthand how this technology

reduces pesticide consumption and labor dependency. After using Salam Kisan’s drone service, they observed healthier plant growth and improved crop resilience. “The process was 100% successful, saving both time and resources. This will be especially beneficial for crops like sugarcane, paddy, and maize, where traditional spraying is challenging due to their height and density.”

Traditional Spraying vs. Drone Spraying: A Comparative Insight

When it comes to efficiency, drone spraying far outperforms traditional methods. Covering 10 acres manually takes nearly 8 hours, whereas drones complete the same task in just 2 hours, significantly saving time. Traditional spraying methods require 100 liters of pesticides, but drone technology reduces this to 70 liters, leading to a 30% savings in chemical use. Labor costs also see a drastic reduction, with manual spraying costing around ₹5,000, while drone spraying lowers it to just ₹1,500. With greater precision, optimal droplet size, and improved plant absorption, drones are not only cost-effective but also more sustainable, helping farmers maximize productivity while reducing wastage.

Drone Spraying: A Scalable Solution for Large Farms

Nine-acre pigeon pea farmer says, drone spraying has been a highly efficient and cost-saving solution. “We completed the entire spraying process in just an hour. This method optimizes pesticide use, provides superior coverage, and significantly reduces costs. Given its advantages, more farmers should adopt drone technology for improved efficiency and long-term sustainability.”

Precision and Uniform Application

Farmers like Dhruval Chandrabadan from Dhule and Shubham Rameshwar Rao Tiwari from Wardha district shares similar success stories. Drone spraying on their pigeon pea fields ensured uniform and precise pesticide application, leading to healthier crops and increased yields. “The quality of spraying was excellent, covering every inch of my field with precision,” says Dhruval. Shubham adds, “The spraying was not just effective but also well-executed. The drone ensured a level of consistency that is difficult to achieve with manual methods.”

Beyond efficiency, drones ensure uniform droplet size and optimal coverage, reducing chemical wastage and improving absorption by plants. This precision enhances plant health while minimizing environmental impact.

The Future of Farming is Here

From cutting labor costs to ensuring precise spraying and increasing yields, Salam Kisan’s Drone technology is enabling farmers to embrace modern solutions for age-old challenges. As more farmers adopt this innovative approach, the future of Indian agriculture is set to become more efficient, sustainable, and profitable.

Alibaba Cloud and edForce Partner to Boost Cloud Talent in India

India, 7th April, 2025 – Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group and a global leader in digital infrastructure, has joined hands with edForce, India’s leading Workforce Upskilling Accelerator, to deliver industry-aligned cloud computing and AI training across the country. This strategic alliance aims to bridge the ever-growing cloud skills gap in India and empower enterprises to scale their digital transformation efforts.

As per NASSCOM and BCG’s joint report, over 2 million new cloud-related roles are expected to emerge in India by 2027, yet a substantial skills gap persists, with only a fraction of the workforce adequately trained. In parallel, the global cloud market is forecasted to reach $1.2 trillion by 2028, growing at a 17.5% CAGR, driven by rapid enterprise adoption and cloud-native innovation.

Alibaba Cloud, ranked among the top three global cloud service providers, brings its robust portfolio of elastic computing, big data analytics, security, and AI-powered solutions to this partnership. edForce, with its proven track record of delivering large-scale training programs to organizations like Infosys, Walmart, Amazon, and Sony, will facilitate learning through hands-on CloudLabs, real-world simulations, and instructor-led training.

“This collaboration with Alibaba Cloud strengthens our commitment to providing India’s workforce with the tools and training to compete globally,” said Ravi Kaklasaria, Co-founder & CEO of edForce. “Together, we’re accelerating cloud upskilling for the enterprises that are building India’s digital economy.”

This partnership will drive high-impact outcomes for both organizations and learners by

  • Delivering Alibaba Cloud certifications that enhance credibility and employability for IT professionals.
  • Offering hands-on training in cloud architecture, AI, storage, and security, all aligned with modern enterprise needs.
  • Supporting digital transformation initiatives across sectors like fintech, retail, manufacturing, and public services.

Together, Alibaba Cloud and edForce will nurture a pipeline of certified cloud professionals, enabling Indian enterprises — big and small — to thrive in a cloud-first, AI-driven future.

Code AI 2025 2nd International Conference on Data Science & AI Exploration

Bengaluru, 7th April 2025: The highly anticipated 2nd International Conference on Data Science & Exploration in Artificial Intelligence, Code AI 2025 is set to take place at MAHE Dubai, UAE on 7th April, Monday from 9:00 am onwards. The event will gather esteemed experts, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and data science.

The event will feature Dr. Hong Lin, Professor Department of Computer Science, University of Houston, Downtown, USA, and Dr. Jalil Piran, Head of the Department of CSE, Sejong University, Seoul as the Guest of Honor. The event will also welcome distinguished Chief Guests, including Prof. (Dr.) Narayana Sabhahit, Pro Vice Chancellor of Technology and Science at MAHE, Prof. and Prof. (Dr.) S. Sudhindra, Academic President at MAHE Dubai.

Prof. (Dr.) Madhu Veeraraghavan Pro Vice Chancellor MAHE Bengaluru, in his absence conveyed his message, “Code AI 2025, is a platform that will bring artificial intelligence and data science professionals together from across the globe for a groundbreaking session to shape the future of technology.”

With a strong lineup of patrons and program chairs, Prof. (Dr.) Iven Jose, Director MIT, MAHE Bengaluru, Dr. S K Pandey, Dean – STEM Programs Chairperson-SoEIT, MAHE Dubai, UAE, Dr. Dayananda P, Professor and Head of IT at MIT, MAHE Bengaluru, Dr. Shreyas J, Assistant Professor, Department of IT MIT, MAHE Bengaluru, Dr. Gururaj H L, Associate Professor at MIT, MAHE Bengaluru, and Dr. Sophia Rahaman, Program Director, Comp. Sci & IT, SoEIT – MAHE Dubai, UAE, CODE AI 2025 is expected to be a significant platform for knowledge exchange and networking in the AI and data science domain.

The conference is being organized in association with the Department of Information Technology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Bengaluru, School of Engineering – Information Technology (SoE-IT), and Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai, UAE.