AGRICULTURAL AUTOMATION: DRONE AND ROBOTIC SYSTEMS WITH RURAL INTERNSHIP TRAINING MODELS

Abstract

Agricultural automation has emerged as a transformative force in modern farming, particularly in the context of food security and rural development in countries like India. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and ground-based robotic platforms are now seen as practical tools for precision agriculture. Yet, their adoption in rural settings remains uneven, partly because technical capacity among farmers and agri-workers is limited. This paper examines the landscape of drone and robotic technologies used in agriculture, their operational advantages, and the barriers that slow their diffusion into rural areas. More importantly, it proposes a structured internship-based training model as a practical intervention to bridge this gap. Drawing on published literature, government policy documents, and field-based observations from agrarian communities in Rajasthan and Punjab, this review argues that technology alone is insufficient, it must be accompanied by accessible, hands-on training embedded in rural institutions. The proposed model integrates classroom instruction, field simulation, and mentored deployment into an eight-week training cycle suitable for agricultural colleges and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). It is hoped that such a model, if adopted at scale, can democratize access to automation and support a new generation of technically equipped rural agri-preneurs.