Drone technology firm PDRL has launched BhuMeet, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform designed to connect farmers with drone service providers, optimising workflows for tasks such as agricultural spraying and surveying. The launch comes as India increasingly explores advanced technologies to address agricultural challenges, modernise the sector, and double farmers’ incomes.
At a launch event in Delhi, senior company executives highlighted BhuMeet’s potential to reduce the operational complexities faced by both farmers and drone service providers. “As India continues to embrace advanced technologies to revolutionise its agriculture sector, we at PDRL are proud to introduce BhuMeet, a platform that will fundamentally change how farmers access essential drone services,” said Anil Chandaliya, founder and CEO, PDRL.
India, with its vast agricultural landscape spanning 1.78 million square kilometres, represents a significant opportunity for the adoption of drone technologies. According to the National Statistical Office’s 2021 report, between 90 and 150 million farmers are engaged in agriculture. The use of drones is expected to boost efficiency in various tasks, such as pesticide spraying, crop health assessments, field mapping, and post-harvest analysis.
The integration of drone technology into agriculture is further supported by government policies, including the Kisan Drone Scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022. The scheme promotes the use of drones to reduce labour costs and increase farmers’ incomes by streamlining activities like pesticide spraying. The G20 Agriculture Deputies Meeting has also highlighted the importance of climate-smart, sustainable agriculture, and digitisation, driving further adoption of such technologies.
BhuMeet aligns with these trends by offering a platform that facilitates connections between farmers and reliable drone service providers. “By bridging the gap between farmers and reliable service providers, BhuMeet not only enhances operational efficiency but also empowers the agricultural community to harness the full potential of drone technology,” Chandaliya said.
The platform builds on PDRL’s previous work in drone technology. Earlier in 2023, the company introduced AeroGCS GREEN, a software widely used by Indian drone manufacturers. According to PDRL, approximately 70% of type-certified agricultural drones in India now operate using AeroGCS GREEN. The same year, PDRL launched AeroGCS Enterprise, aimed at managing large-scale drone operations, allowing service providers to streamline activities, track performance, and generate reports.
With BhuMeet, PDRL aims to directly connect farmers with service providers, continuing its innovation in the drone industry. The platform allows users to locate and hire providers based on proximity and service records, ensuring efficient and localised service delivery.
For drone service providers, BhuMeet offers tools to simplify service request management, assign tasks to pilots, and manage multiple requests efficiently. The platform also provides real-time updates for clients, enhancing transparency, and service analytics to help providers improve their performance. For drone pilots, it offers an organised workflow for task assignments and communication with customers.
Farmers stand to benefit from easier access to reliable drone services. The platform enables users to search for service providers based on location and past performance and offers real-time updates on service requests. Payment options are integrated, allowing farmers to manage their operations remotely and pay via mobile devices.
PDRL’s CTO, Vishal Dharankar, noted that the platform integrates both mobile and web applications, making it accessible to a broad range of users. “By centralising service requests and offering streamlined management tools, the platform will help service providers grow their businesses while giving farmers easier access to advanced technologies,” he said.
While BhuMeet is primarily focused on agriculture, PDRL suggests that its features could be adapted for other sectors, such as infrastructure inspection or land surveying, as the drone industry continues to expand. Chandaliya added, “We believe this innovation will set new standards in the industry and play a vital role in modernising agriculture across the nation.”
