Agricultural drones are finding their way into modern farming increasingly. Farmers have been making use of drones to increase their yields or reduce expenses in recent times.
Due to the increasing need for agricultural drone in modern farming, the demand for skilled agriculture drone pilots keeps on increasing day by day!
With the increasing use of technology in farming, drones are helpful for monitoring crop health or even spraying fertilisers with precision. In addition to increasing harvest, this also minimises waste.
A career as a drone pilot is more profitable with a lot of growth potential. Now is the perfect time to join as a drone pilot if you have a passion for technology or you love the idea of operating drones as a profession.
Keep reading to get to know more about how to find agriculture drone pilot jobs that are just perfect for you!
Why Are Agriculture Drone Pilot Jobs in High Demand?
Drones are transforming farming, which earlier depended on tractors or human labour. As precision farming is becoming more popular, many farmers are using drones for monitoring crop health or spray fertiliser. This has led to significant growth in agricultural efficiency as well as cost-effectiveness.
The use of drones in farming has been encouraged by governments throughout the globe, which are providing subsidies to support many agri tech advancements. A huge demand for skilled drone pilots keeps growing every day.
As of now, many small-scale farmers are taking agriculture drone for rent to increase efficiency. As a result, the agriculture drone pilot jobs are in higher demand than ever before!
Key Skills Required for an Agriculture Drone Pilot
If you want to be an agricultural drone pilot, it’s not just enough to fly drones. You also need to use technology to increase efficiency for farmers. Here are the things you will need to be successful!
- Drone Flying & Maneuvering Skills- You must have complete knowledge of everything from take-off and landing to smooth navigation.
- Remote Sensing & GIS Mapping- Knowing how to map or analyse land is important when working with drones since they collect valuable field data.
- Knowledge of Crop Monitoring- Farmers can make more accurate choices when they can identify crop health more early.
- Data Analysis- The data collected by drones is huge. But the real challenge is in making it into actionable insights.
- Basic Drone Maintenance & Troubleshooting- For smooth operations, you should have knowledge of how to fix minor issues in the drones.
Certifications and Licenses Needed for an Agriculture Drone Pilot
If you want to become an agriculture drone pilot in India, you should follow DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) regulations with the necessary certifications.
Commercial drone flying requires a Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC), which can only be obtained from training institutions recognised by the DGCA.
Institutes like ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) & state agriculture universities offer training on specialised courses such as crop monitoring, data collection or spraying using drones.
DGCA approval under the Digital Sky platform is required for the type of drone you use in agriculture.
How to Find Agriculture Drone Pilot Jobs?
Are you the one who wants to find agriculture drone jobs? But feeling confused about where to start. It is so true that there is a growing demand for agriculture pilot jobs. You just need to know where to look to find the best jobs.
Here are some places where you can find agriculture drone pilot jobs. Check out!
Top Job Portals
You can find drone pilot jobs in the agricultural industry on job portal websites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, DroneBase or AgHires. Avoid missing out on any opportunities by setting up alerts!
Freelance & Contract Work Platforms
You can also provide drone services to farmers or agribusinesses through platforms like Upwork or Fiverr if you want a more flexible work schedule.
Networking with Agricultural Companies & Drone Service Providers
Even though they may not advertise online, many agrotech companies or farms are in need of drone pilots. Consider contacting them directly or joining appropriate industry groups.
Attending Agriculture & Drone Industry Conferences
You can meet prospective employers or get the latest industry trends at events like precision farming conferences or AgTech summits.
Salary Range for Agriculture Drone Pilots
Are you curious to know how much you can earn as an agriculture drone pilot in India? Salaries can vary based on location or job type.
If you are a beginner with a Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC), you can work for agritech companies or government projects and can earn between 2.5 to 4 LPA.
Salaries in precision farming or drone spraying services can go up to ₹6 – ₹10 LPA with advanced certifications along with practical experience.
Pilots with expertise in data analysis or geographic information system mapping are in high demand in states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, or Punjab and can expect to earn a higher salary.
Earnings can be between ₹5,000 and ₹15,000 per project for freelancers, and they may make even more than salaried employees if they establish a steady client base.
Salaries are expected to grow due to the growing demand for drone-based agricultural solutions. Hence, this is an ideal time to join the industry!
Future of Agriculture Drone Pilot Jobs Are Promising
Undoubtedly, the future is more promising as technology is continuously evolving.
Drones are quickly becoming an essential aspect of precision farming, which is helping to increase crop yields along with making agriculture more sustainable.
As the industry grows, so does the demand for skilled agriculture drone pilots are growing!
As the editor of the blog, She curate insightful content that sparks curiosity and fosters learning. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, she strive to bring diverse perspectives and engaging narratives to readers, ensuring every piece informs, inspires, and enriches.
