Mechanisation and digitisation: Uttar Pradesh farmers eye rich harvest

From drones to laser levellers, farmers in UP are increasingly adopting technology, Aditi Phadnis reports from the fields of Mohanlalgunj, near Lucknow

In the verdant fields of Uttar Pradesh, change is in the air. 

Shiv Kumar, a diminutive figure amid the swaying amaranth fields of Kebuli village in the Mohanlalgunj Lok Sabha constituency, proudly announces his new role as a drone pilot. His 25 kg drone, he explains, can deliver precise dosages of both fertiliser and water to his fields, eliminating waste and reducing input costs. When he’s not using the drone on his own land, he rents it out to nearby farmers, providing an additional source of income. 

“Mechanisation and digitisation have transformed agriculture in Uttar Pradesh in the past five-six years like