For many years, apple growers within the distant Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh have been utilizing ropeways and mules to move their produce from their orchards to the closest predominant street in order that it could actually make it to the market. From this harvest season, nonetheless, the growers can have the chance to move containers of luscious apples utilizing drones.

After a profitable trial of apple transportation by a drone final 12 months, a non-public firm is providing the ability to apple growers within the tribal district on a industrial foundation. “Drone services will be available for transporting apples from August this year. A drone with a lifting capacity of 100kg (five boxes of 20kg) will be used. It will cover a 10-km aerial distance in eight minutes. The proposed fare is 6 per kg and may be reduced later,” said Ankit Kumar, the chief executive officer of the company providing the service.

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Most apple orchards in Kinnaur are situated at a high altitude that lacks road connectivity, making transporting a challenge. The cost doubles due to manual transportation of the produce and a perennial labor shortage.

Kinnaur growers produce 30 to 50 lakh boxes of apples annually.

In November last year, a successful trial of transporting apples by drone took place at Nichar in Kinnaur.

Growers, however, are not enthused. “Transporting the boxes by drone will be time consuming. Packaging material will be crucial,” says Bisheshar Negi, an apple grower of Chaunra village in Kinnaur district.

“Using a drone will depend upon the climate and it is costly at 6 per kg. It’s certainly not cost-effective. We should adopt technologies but I’m apprehensive about the rate that has been fixed,” says Sanyukt Kisan Manch convener Harish Chauhan.

Incidentally, the Himachal Pradesh Drone Policy, 2022, envisions making a holistic drone ecosystem constructed upon the muse of Governance and Reforms Using Drones (GARUD). So far, medicines are being delivered to individuals within the distant areas of Mandi, Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti by drones. Samples are additionally being taken for well being checkups by way of this facility.