Coromandel International Limited, a leading provider of Agri solutions in India offering diverse products and services across the farming value chain and part of Murugappa Group, continues to focus on technology adoption in agriculture and has been conducting drone trials in various locations.
Coromandel has made strategic investments in technology-led agriculture and plans to use AgTech to help farmers increase productivity through the use of precision agriculture. In addition, the company recently invested INR 200 million in Dhaksha Unmanned Systems Private Limited, a unique drone startup. Dare Ventures, Coromandel's venture capital arm, made the investment.
The Indian government has encouraged the use of drone technology in agricultural applications such as liquid / nano fertilisers and crop protection chemicals. The government released SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for drone regulation for pesticide application in December 2021.
These covered important aspects like statutory provisions, flying permissions, area distance restrictions, weight classification, overcrowded areas restriction, drone registration, safety insurance, piloting certification, operation plan, air flight zones and weather conditions.
Speaking on the investments, Arun Alagappan, Executive Vice Chairman of Coromandel International Limited, said, "As part of Coromandel’s technology focus, we are closely partnering with the Startup ecosystem and strengthening our presence in the Agtech space. Our investment in Daksha reflects this endeavor and gives us a strong position in the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology solutions area. With a focus on resource use efficiency, drone adoption in agriculture holds significant potential to improve Agri inputs effectiveness, reduce water usage, boost farm mechanization and drive precision agriculture practices. There has also been good support from the Government to improve its adoption in Agriculture in terms of policy and regulatory support. At Coromandel, we will continue to promote technologies that can drive productivity gains and sustainable agricultural practices in the Indian farms”.
Dhaksha, one of India's forerunners in the drone space, offers a comprehensive range of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology solutions for various applications, including agriculture, defense, surveillance, and delivery. Based in Chennai, the company has developed expertise in drone R&D, testing, manufacturing, and customer support. In addition to developing the capability to manufacture battery-powered drones, Dhaksha is the only company in India that produces petrol-engine-powered drones.
Coromandel International Limited is a pioneer and leading Agri solutions provider in India, offering a wide range of products and services across the farming value chain. It has two major business segments: a nutrient and other allied businesses and crop protection. Fertilizers, crop protection, bioproducts, specialty nutrients, and organic businesses are examples of these. The company is India's second-largest manufacturer and marketer of phosphoric fertilizer.
