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Optimizing UAV Spraying for Sustainable Agriculture: A Life Cycle and Efficiency Analysis in India

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  • Shefali Vinod Ramteke

    (Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj 211015, India)

  • Pritish Kumar Varadwaj

    (Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj 211015, India)

  • Vineet Tiwari

    (Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj 211015, India)

Abstract

Problem: Agriculture in India faces pressing challenges related to water scarcity, excessive pesticide use, and inefficient energy consumption, impacting both economic sustainability and environmental health. Methodology: This study integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Intelligent Management Models (IMMs), and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to assess the economic and environmental benefits of UAV-based spraying in Indian agriculture. Data were collected from UAV service providers and field trials in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Results: UAV spraying achieved a 70% reduction in water use, 40% reduction in pesticide consumption, and a 50% reduction in CO 2 emissions compared to conventional spraying. DEA results showed higher efficiency scores for UAVs, while IMM optimization achieved 95% pesticide coverage and reduced drift by 80%. Implications: MCDA ranked government subsidies as the most effective policy intervention. These findings support UAV spraying as a viable, scalable solution for climate-smart agriculture in India, offering both productivity and sustainability gains.

Suggested Citation

  • Shefali Vinod Ramteke & Pritish Kumar Varadwaj & Vineet Tiwari, 2025. "Optimizing UAV Spraying for Sustainable Agriculture: A Life Cycle and Efficiency Analysis in India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-30, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6211-:d:1696188
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    References listed on IDEAS

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