India is the first country to control locusts through drones. Under the Make in India initiative, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare (DAC&FW), Agriculture Ministry has indigenously developed a vehicle-mounted Ultra-low volume (ULV) sprayer for locust control. Locust is a crop-threatening migratory pest that has entered the country through the India-Pakistan border.
In total 60 ground control teams of Locust Circle Offices and 12 drones are being used for locust control operations in the affected areas. The need for an aerial spray for locust control was felt like the ground control vehicles sprayers can spray up to a height of 25-30 feet only. The tractor-mounted sprayers also have a limitation in reaching inaccessible areas and tall trees.