For the first time in Himachal Pradesh, apples will be transported by drone. The trial of transporting apples by drone has been successful in the tribal district Kinnaur of the state. During the trial, a 20 kg box of apples was transported by drone to a distance of 4 km in only 6 minutes, while it takes hours to travel on foot. The trial company claims that the drone can lift up to 150 kg of apples at a time. On the request of the representatives of Panchayat Nichar of Kinnaur and the local gardener group, the private company has tried to transport apples by drone from Nichar Stadium to Nichar Kanda. Nichar Kanda situated on the hill has apple orchards but no road facility. The gardeners get the workers to transport the apples.
Jagdev Negi, deputy head of Nichar Panchayat, told that transportation with laborers becomes expensive, sometimes there is a shortage of laborers. Transportation of apples by drone is beneficial for us. The Vigro company, which is engaged in the business of vegetables and fruits, has done this trial in association with the Sky Air Company in collaboration with the gardeners. Regional Manager of Vigro Company Dinesh Negi said that with the aim of incorporating technology in the field of agriculture and horticulture, a successful trial of apple transportation by drone has been done. Soon a trial will also be done with a drone capable of lifting 150 kg. Efforts will be made to make this facility available in all the apple producing areas of Himachal Pradesh.
Transportation rates should be fixed after discussing with Panchayat and apple growers
Where time will be saved in transportation of apples by drone, apples will reach the road safely. We welcome the successful trial of modern technology, but the rates of apple transportation through drones should be fixed only after discussion with the local panchayat and apple growers’ groups. – Manoj Mehta, Gardener, Nichar
Himachal is the first state in the country to make a drone policy. So far, medicines are being delivered to the people in Mandi, Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti and other remote areas of the state through drones. Not only this, samples for health check-up are also being ordered with the help of drones.
Drones can also be used in the transportation of cash crops.
Jagdev Negi, Deputy Head of Nichar Panchayat, Gardener Satish Negi, Parmanand, Manoj Mathas, Govind Negi, Ramesh Negi said that in future, the gardeners will be able to transport apples to the road or market with less cost. It would be easy to reach. Kinnaur is an apple dominated area, where about 37 lakh boxes of apples are produced every year. Due to lack of road facility in many remote areas, the orchardists have to face difficulties in reaching the apple market or road. But now after the successful trial of the drone, thousands of gardeners in the district are hopeful of ease in transporting apples in the coming times. Also, drones can be used to transport potatoes and other cash crops to the market or road.
