Drones have begun to be implemented in the agricultural sector of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      July 17, 2025, 09:25

      [139]

      Society

      In the Nizhny Novgorod region, trials of various applications of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in agriculture have begun. The work is part of an experimental legal regime aimed at developing innovative technologies in the agricultural sector.

      The project is implemented by the EPR operator — Gorky Tech Autonomous Non-Profit Organization in cooperation with the Scientific and Production Center for Unmanned Aerial Systems of the region, LLC "BAS," and the agricultural enterprise LLC "Barmino." The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Entrepreneurship of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      The trials are conducted within the framework of the national project "Unmanned Aerial Systems," initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. All flights are carried out along approved routes with adherence to necessary safety measures.

      According to Deputy Governor Andrey Sanosyan, the unmanned technology industry is still in its early stages of development, and for its advancement, it is important to explore potential application areas and demand levels.

      "We have already conducted pilot deliveries of biomaterials between medical institutions, and we are testing the delivery of consumer goods via air couriers. Active work is currently underway in the agro-industrial complex," Sanosyan noted.

      Modern methods of agro-monitoring are used within the framework of the project, including calculating the NDVI index to assess soil and vegetation conditions, digital field imaging with an accuracy of 1–5 cm, and point-specific fertilization over areas up to a thousand hectares.

      Roman Renzin, director of Gorky Tech ANO, stated that upon completion of all planned flights, specialists will receive specific data on the economic efficiency of using drones in agriculture.

      "Our goal is to compare the costs of performing agricultural tasks with UAS and traditional methods. These data will help farmers make more informed decisions when optimizing their processes," he explained.

      Alexey Varyatchenko, General Director of LLC "BAS," emphasized that for the first time, multispectral imaging of LLC "Barmino" fields was conducted to calculate the vegetation index. Additionally, specialists performed point crop protection treatments using agro-drones.

      "These technologies significantly increase the efficiency of the enterprise's work and accelerate management decision-making," Varyatchenko noted.

      One of the key directions of the project is environmental sustainability. The use of precision farming technologies allows for a substantial reduction in chemical usage, thus decreasing environmental impact.

      All collected data will be integrated into the domestic geoinformation platform "GeoMir," which will enable the creation of a digital model of agricultural land for further analysis and planning.

      Owner of LLC "Barmino," Igor Sogin, emphasized that in the context of a labor shortage in agriculture, increasing production efficiency is a priority.

      "Unmanned systems help minimize errors in crop cultivation and improve the quality of forage crops," he summarized.

      It was previously reported that drone deliveries of goods are being tested in Nizhny Novgorod.

      NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay updated on key events, exclusive materials, and real-time information.

      Copyright © 1999–2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain 18+ materials.