§1What this business is
A trained pilot carries the drone, batteries and charger to the village, usually on a motorcycle fitted with a frame and box, and sprays field after field in minutes. A broadcasting attachment lets the same drone spread seed or granules. NABARD's Bihar unit-cost booklet for 2025-26 lists the full kit: drone ₹7,43,000, bike frame and box ₹80,000, 10 extra batteries ₹2,60,000, 2 charging hubs ₹30,000, pilot training ₹65,000, insurance ₹37,000 and a broadcasting unit ₹95,000.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A rural youth, FPO, custom hiring centre or input dealer with a trained and certified drone pilot.
Who it is not for
Areas of very small, scattered plots with trees and power lines, or anyone without pilot training.
Advantages
- Sprays an acre in minutes and saves labour and water
- Keeps the operator away from the chemical
- Bank unit costs are already fixed for the full kit
Drawbacks
- Work is bunched into a few spray weeks each season
- Batteries wear out and cost ₹26,000 each in the list
- A crash can write off a ₹7 lakh machine
Skills you need
- Certified drone piloting
- Correct dose and safe handling of agro-chemicals
- Battery care and field repairs
- Booking work across villages
Why difficulty 3/5: Needs a certified pilot and enough booked acres each season.
§3Market
Who buys
- Farmers growing paddy, wheat, maize, sugarcane, vegetables and orchards
- FPOs and cooperatives
- Fertiliser and pesticide companies running spray campaigns
How it sells
- Per-acre bookings through village contacts and input dealers
- Work orders from drone or input companies
Good to know
- NABARD says all unit costs are indicative and banks may finance at prevailing market rates including GST.
- NABARD's Andhra Pradesh 2025-26 guide lists an agriculture drone of 10 litre spray capacity, with onsite training, at ₹6,50,000 to ₹10,00,000.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural spraying drone | 1 | ₹7,43,000 |
| Frame and box for motorcycle | 1 | ₹80,000 |
| Extra batteries | 10 | ₹2,60,000 |
| Charging hub | 2 | ₹30,000 |
| Drone pilot training | 1 | ₹65,000 |
| Insurance | 1 | ₹37,000 |
| Broadcasting unit (seed and granule spreader) | 1 | ₹95,000 |
From: NABARD Bihar Regional Office — Unit Cost for Investment Activities in Agriculture and Allied Sectors in Bihar 2025-26 (2025)
- Pesticides and liquid fertilisersnormally supplied by the farmer
From: NABARD Bihar Regional Office — Unit Cost for Investment Activities in Agriculture and Allied Sectors in Bihar 2025-26 (2025)
§5Licences & registration
- Remote Pilot Certificate from a DGCA-approved training organisation
- Type-certified drone with Unique Identification Number on Digital Sky
- Drone insurance
- Udyam registration
Start it in your state
Pick your state: today’s cost, central + state subsidy, raw material, land and help, on one page.
§6Schemes & subsidies
- AIFCentralUnclear3% interest subvention, up to ₹2 crore
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
Drone subsidy for custom hiring is given under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation through State agriculture departments; ask the district agriculture office for current rates. Bihar lists "Agriculture Drone as a Service" under its Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana. The loan can be covered by CGTMSE, and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund supports drone purchase with 3% interest subvention — confirm with the bank.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Min = the drone alone, ₹7,43,000. Max = all seven items in the NABARD Bihar list added together: drone ₹7,43,000 + bike frame and box ₹80,000 + 10 extra batteries ₹2,60,000 + 2 charging hubs ₹30,000 + pilot training ₹65,000 + insurance ₹37,000 + broadcasting unit ₹95,000 = ₹13,10,000. The booklet prints the lines, not the total.
§8Export potential
A local service; there is no goods export in this business.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Too few acres booked to repay the loan
- Crash or battery damage
- Spray drift damaging a neighbour's crop
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working agricultural drone spraying service unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Remote Pilot Certificate from a DGCA-approved training organisation, Type-certified drone with Unique Identification Number on Digital Sky), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Agricultural Drone Spraying Service?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
- NABARD Bihar Regional Office — Unit Cost for Investment Activities in Agriculture and Allied Sectors in Bihar 2025-26 (2025)
- NABARD Andhra Pradesh Regional Office — A Comprehensive Guide of Unit Costs on Investment in Agriculture and Allied Sectors 2025-26 (2025)
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.