Drones made by start-up in Kerala selected for international agricultural project in African fields

KOCHI: The drones from Kerala has been selected for missions to eradicate pests and increase yield through scientific methods in African fields. The drones were made by ‘Fuselage innovations’, a start-up by Cherthala Pattanakad natives Devan Chandrasekharan and his sister Devika. Devan is a graduate in Aeronautical engineering and Devika in Electronics engineering.

The project is in collaboration with ICRISAT, an international agricultural research organisation. The project will start in Morocco, so the start-up is likely to have a unit there.

Morocco is a country that widely cultivates sugarcane, potatoes, barley, and wheat. The project has also many opportunities in countries like Kenya and Uganda.

A drone costs Rs 7.5 lakh. A spraying drone and a surveillance drone to collect data are being manufactured. A spraying drone with a capacity of 10 litres can complete the mission in one acre in eight minutes. A surveillance drone can collect data on 10 acres in 10 minutes.

Fuselage has the capacity to manufacture 1,000 drones per year. The start-up has 15 employees. The project will also help to provide employment to more people.

The drones can be used to control pests as well as for spraying fertilisers. It can capture 3D images. Agricultural map can also be prepared.

P Samir, a native of Mannar who is cultivating rice on 300 acres in Cherthala, says that drones have huge opportunities. It helped him to get better yield. License and training are required for using drones.

Fuselage, which started two years ago with the help of the Union Ministry of Agriculture with an investment of Rs 7.5 lakh in Kalamassery Maker Village, now has a turnover of Rs 1 crore.