MUMBAI, 19 June 2025: India’s agricultural sector is poised for a technological transformation as the agriculture drones market is projected to surge from USD 243.60 million in 2024 to USD 2,110.60 million by 2033, according to a new report by the IMARC Group.
The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.10%, reflecting rising demand for automation, data-driven farming, and sustainability in Indian agriculture.
The report, titled “India Agriculture Drones Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Offering, Component, Farming Environment, Application, and Region, 2025-2033”, provides an in-depth look at market trends, growth drivers, and regional outlook.
Precision, Policy, and Platform Innovation Drive Growth
The rising adoption of AI-based drones is a key market catalyst, with technologies like machine learning and multispectral imaging being used for crop health monitoring, pest detection, and yield forecasting. These innovations allow farmers to assess soil health and irrigation needs with far greater accuracy than traditional methods.
The central government’s Kisan Drone Scheme, which provides cost-sharing subsidies, has been instrumental in fast-tracking drone adoption, especially among smallholder farmers. Additionally, the Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) model is proving popular, enabling farmers to rent drones for specific tasks rather than bearing the high cost of ownership.
Hybrid drones capable of both spraying and mapping are becoming the go-to solution for boosting operational efficiency. Partnerships between agritech startups and rural cooperatives are also helping push drone usage deeper into India’s farming heartland.
Sustainability, AI, and Regional Customization in Focus
With sustainability becoming a major priority, farmers are gravitating toward targeted spraying solutions that minimize chemical usage and align with organic farming goals. Advancements in battery technology, including longer flight times and solar-charging capabilities, are addressing earlier limitations in drone performance.
The report also notes a rising demand for region-specific drone solutions, such as those customized for paddy fields in Punjab or cotton farms in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, horticulture and plantation crops like tea, grapes, and apples are emerging as new drone-use segments.
Agri-Tech Ecosystem Expands
India’s shrinking arable land and labor shortages are creating a pressing need for automated agricultural solutions. Large agribusinesses are now leveraging drones for tasks like seeding and spraying, especially under contract farming arrangements.
A significant development is the convergence of drone technology with farm management software, creating integrated platforms that manage everything from soil analysis to harvest planning. With venture capital investments pouring into drone manufacturing and AI-based analytics, the ecosystem is ripe for innovation.
Drones are also playing a growing role in climate-resilient farming, helping monitor weather conditions in real time and assess damage during natural disasters. Experts stress the importance of regional training programs, local language interfaces, and collaboration with agricultural universities to ensure widespread adoption.
The India agriculture drones market, driven by policy momentum, tech innovation, and evolving farmer needs, is set to play a defining role in the country’s next green revolution.
