Paddy (rice) field in India

๐ŸŒพ Paddy

Paddy (rice) spraying by drone

Paddy is India's largest crop by area, grown from the Godavari and Cauvery deltas to the Punjab plains and the Assam valley. Standing water, closely spaced plants and a tall canopy make walking through a paddy field with a knapsack slow, wet work that tramples the crop.

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Why a drone suits paddy

  • The drone flies over the flooded field, so nobody wades through mud or standing water with a tank on their back.
  • Downwash from the rotors pushes droplets down into the canopy, reaching sheath and stem where blast and sheath blight start.
  • An acre is covered in a few minutes, so a whole block can be treated inside the same morning weather window.
  • No trampling of tillers along the spray lanes.

When paddy is sprayed

Kharif paddy is sprayed from tillering to booting (July to September in most states), with rabi or summer paddy following from December to March in the southern deltas. Bookings peak when blast, sheath blight, stem borer or brown planthopper pressure builds after heavy rain.

Before the operator arrives

  • Drain fields to a thin film of water before spraying if the label calls for it, and keep the field free of people and livestock during the run.
  • Book before pest pressure peaks; the operator needs daylight and low wind, so early morning slots go first.
  • For planthopper, tell the operator so the flight height and droplet size can be set to reach the base of the plant.
  • Clear the field of people and livestock, tell the operator about overhead lines or trees, and keep the re-entry interval on the label after the run.
No app needed

Get quotes for your paddy field

Tell us where the field is, what is planted and how many acres. We pass it to verified operators near you and reply with per-acre quotes on WhatsApp. Pay in cash at the field or by UPI in the app; nothing starts until you share your start code.

  • DGCA-authorised operators only
  • Price per acre fixed before the drone flies
  • Your number is used only to send you quotes

Fill in your name, mobile number, location and acres to send.

Prefer the app? Download Sky Spray to post your field with a map pin and get quotes directly from operators.

How a booking works

Four steps from your phone to a sprayed field. You set the price, and nothing starts until you share the start code.

01

Post your field and name your price

Drop a pin on your field, enter the acreage and crop, pick a date and set the price per acre you want to pay. The app shows the going rate nearby.

02

A nearby operator accepts

Your request goes to verified operators around you for 5 minutes. The first to accept your price gets the job. No taker? Raise your offer and post again.

03

Pay cash at the field, or UPI in the app

Pay the operator in cash when they arrive, or pay online after they accept. Then share your 4-digit start code; that is what starts the spray.

04

Proof on your phone

The operator uploads GPS-located photos of the sprayed area from your field. You see them in the app and rate the job.

Paddy drone spraying: common questions

Can a drone spray paddy when the field is flooded?

Yes. The drone flies above the crop and does not touch the field, so standing water is not a problem for the aircraft. Follow the chemical label on water depth at the time of application.

How much water does a drone use per acre of paddy?

Drone spraying is ultra-low-volume: typically around 8 to 10 litres of spray mix per acre, compared with 150 to 200 litres for a knapsack sprayer.

Does the drone downwash damage paddy plants?

No. The downwash briefly parts the canopy so droplets penetrate deeper, and the plants recover immediately. There is no trampling because nobody walks through the field.

How much does drone spraying cost per acre?

You name the price when you post your field; the app shows the rates operators near you charge and will not go below the lowest of them. On average, standard pesticide, fungicide or nutrient runs settle between โ‚น300 and โ‚น600 per acre, chemicals excluded, but it varies with the rates operators near you set. Orchards and tall crops that need more spray volume can be higher.

Is there a minimum booking size?

Most operators accept bookings from 2 acres. Smaller plots are often batched with neighbouring farms on the same visit, so post your field anyway and let nearby operators decide.

Are the drone operators licensed?

Every operator on Sky Spray submits a DGCA Remote Pilot Certificate, drone registration details and identity proof, and is verified before they can accept a job.

When and how do I pay?

Cash or UPI, your choice. Pay the operator in cash when they reach your field, or pay online in the app once they accept. Either way, the job starts only when you share your 4-digit start code, so nobody starts spraying before you are ready and paid up.

Can I cancel a booking?

Yes. Cancelling before an operator accepts, or before you have paid, costs nothing. Cancelling a paid online booking after acceptance keeps a 20% fee for the operator's reserved slot. Once the start code is shared the job is under way and cannot be cancelled in the app. See the Refund & Cancellation Policy.

Sky Spray

Book a drone for your paddy field

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