Shillong: Drone technology has been deployed in West Garo Hills to help farmers combat the spread of bud rot disease in arecanut plantations, marking a major push toward modern crop protection practices in Meghalaya.
In a first-of-its-kind trial for the district, drones sprayed bio-fungicides across selected arecanut fields in Chikasingre and Teksragre villages under Rongram C&RD Block, where a growing number of plantations have been affected by the disease.
Agriculture officials said the operation was carried out on November 11 and 12, and is expected to provide farmers with faster and more effective disease management support.
Bud rot, caused by Phytophthora species, has become a serious concern for arecanut cultivation in the state.
The tall structure of arecanut palms often prevents ground-level equipment from providing proper coverage, leading to delayed treatment and higher crop loss.
With drone-based spraying, the fungicide can be delivered directly to the crown region — the point where most infections begin — ensuring better reach and precision.
The demonstration was conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, in partnership with the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), NECTAR Shillong, Akin Analytic, Smart Village Movement (SVM) and Agri-PMU.
The initiative also aimed to orient farmers toward new-age agricultural tools that can improve efficiency and reduce labour challenges.
Officials said four fields were covered during the trial, two in each village, with active participation from 40 farmers.
Around 150 arecanut trees were mapped for spraying using aerial imaging techniques.
A follow-up drone-based mapping assessment is planned after 30 to 40 days to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and gather data for future disease response strategies.
The Agriculture Department noted that such technological interventions could soon play a key role in safeguarding arecanut cultivation, a vital crop for livelihoods in several parts of Meghalaya.
