Knowledge of Agricultural Drone Technology among Farmers in Haryana: A Socio-Economic Study

Abstract

Agricultural drones have developed as a key component of precision farming, with advantages such as focused pesticide application, greater crop monitoring, and better decision-making. The current study was undertaken in Haryana's Hisar and Karnal districts to examine the knowledge level of farmers who had attended agricultural drone technology demos. Purposive sampling was used to choose a total of 60 respondents, and main data was acquired utilizing a well-structured interview schedule. According to the data, farmers had moderate understanding of drone applications such as precise pesticide and fertilizer spraying (68.33%), early detection of pest and disease infestation (53.33%), and crop yield prediction (51.67%). However, there was significantly less awareness of legal restrictions, operating and maintenance costs, and technical characteristics such as sensor-based crop health assessments. The overall knowledge assessment found that 41.70 percent of respondents had poor knowledge, 36.70 percent had medium knowledge, and just 21.60 percent had high knowledge. Age, education, income, landholding size, mass media exposure, social activity, and socioeconomic status all had a substantial impact on knowledge levels. The study emphasizes the importance of structured training, financial assistance, and extension interventions for farmers to improve their practical understanding and acceptance of drone technology for long-term agricultural development.