Agricultural Drone Market Size - By Product (Hardware [Fixed Wing, Multi Rotor, Hybrid], Software [Data Management, Imaging, Data Analytics]), Application (Field Mapping, Variable Rate Application, Crop Scouting), Regional Outlook & Forecast, 2023 - 2032

Agricultural Drone Market Size

Agricultural Drone Market size was valued at USD 7.9 billion in 2022 and is estimated to register a CAGR of 20.1% between 2023 and 2032, driven by a continuous rise in precision farming practices. With the rising global population, precision agriculture plays a crucial role in ensuring food security by increasing the efficiency of food production.

According to the UNDP report, in the forthcoming decades, global agriculture must undergo a substantial evolution to address the future requirements of a burgeoning population. By the year 2050, the agricultural sector will confront the formidable task of providing sustenance to approximately 10 billion individuals, necessitating nearly a twofold increase in food production, all while maintaining sustainability as a paramount goal.

Precision agriculture relies on technology to optimize crop management, offering real-time data on soil conditions, crop health, and pest infestations. Agricultural drone play a pivotal role in gathering this critical data efficiently, enabling farmers to make data-driven decisions, reduce waste, and enhance crop yields, thus driving the agricultural drone industry.

Stringent government regulations pose a significant challenge in the agricultural drone market. Regulatory frameworks can limit drone usage, impose certification requirements, and restrict flying in certain areas. Compliance with these regulations demands time and resources, potentially affecting the adoption and growth of drone technology in agriculture, despite its potential to revolutionize farming practices and increase yields.

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic had a mixed impact on the agriculture drone market. On the one hand, it highlighted the importance of automation and remote monitoring in agriculture, potentially increasing the interest in drone technology. However, supply chain disruptions, economic uncertainties, and restricted movement hindered some drone production and adoption efforts. Ultimately, the pandemic's net effect on the agricultural drone sector depended on the specific circumstances and markets within each region.
 

Agricultural Drone Market Trends

Drones designed specifically for different agricultural needs, such as crop spraying, seeding, or monitoring, are expected to become more widely available. These customized solutions aim to address the specific requirements of various crops and farming practices, favoring the market dynamics in the long run. To that end, in July 2023, the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO) announced its adoption of drone technology. IFFCO partnered with Drone Destination, a company that recently conducted a highly successful IPO.

Together, they will provide agriculture drone Spray services at IFFCO's Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSKs) throughout India. Under this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), drone destination will deliver agriculture spray services at 50 PMKSKs in nine states across the nation. Their primary role will be to assist farmers in the precise application of IFFCO's Nano Urea, Nano DAP, and other essential nutrients to crops using drone technology.

Cost efficiency will be a driving force behind the growing demand for agricultural drone market. These technology-driven tools reduce labor costs and optimize resource use, leading to higher yields and reduced waste. With such economic benefits, governments, agricultural agencies, and farmers are increasingly turning to drone to enhance their operations, making them indispensable in modern agriculture.

For instance, in July 2023, the prominent cooperative IFFCO unveiled a campaign, a nationwide initiative to encourage the adoption of nano fertilizers. As part of this initiative, IFFCO will acquire 2,500 agricultural drone and train over 5,000 rural entrepreneurs. IFFCO has already taken steps towards procuring this drone for the phased spraying of their nano urea and nano di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) products, cementing its commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.
 

Agriculture Drone Market Analysis

Based on product, the hardware segment held over 75% of the market share in 2022. The demand for agricultural drone, whether fixed-wing, multi-rotor, nano, or hybrid, can be attributed to several key factors. Fixed-wing drone offer efficiency in covering large areas, making them appealing for vast farmlands.

Multi-rotor Drone provide agility and versatility for closer inspections. Nano Drone are prized for their cost-effectiveness and ease of use. Hybrid Drone combine the advantages of both fixed-wing and multi-rotor models. Overall, the growing demand for agricultural drone is propelled by the need for precision agriculture, cost savings, and increased efficiency in crop monitoring, pest control, and data collection for informed decision-making in modern farming.

Based on application, the field mapping segment recorded more than 35% of the agricultural drone market share in 2022. Agricultural drones are in high demand for field mapping applications due to their ability to provide accurate and up-to-date spatial data for precision agriculture. Drone equipped with advanced sensors and cameras can capture detailed imagery and data over large fields quickly and cost-effectively. This information aids farmers in creating precise field maps, identifying crop health issues, monitoring soil conditions, and optimizing resource allocation. The demand for field mapping with agricultural drone is driven by the need to enhance crop yields, reduce resource wastage, and make data-driven decisions for sustainable and efficient farming practices.

North America agricultural drone market accounted for 30% of the revenue share in 2022. The region's vast and diverse agricultural landscape benefits due to the efficiency and precision offered by drone in crop monitoring, management, and yield optimization will drive industry growth. Additionally, supportive government policies and regulations, coupled with significant investments in research and development, have fostered innovation in the sector. Moreover, North American farmers are increasingly adopting technology-driven solutions to enhance productivity and sustainability, making agricultural drone a valuable tool in modern farming practices, driving the industry's growth in the region.

Agricultural Drone Market Share

The major companies operating in the agricultural drone industry are-

• 3D Robotics
• AeroVironment, Inc.
• AGCO Corporation
• AgEagle Aerial Systems
• Agribotix
• Delair
• DJI (Dà-Ji?ng Innovations)
• DroneDeploy
• Parrot
• PrecisionHawk
• Quantum Systems
• senseFly
• Sentera
• Skeycatch
• Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
   

Companies in the agricultural drone market are employing a range of strategies to bolster their market presence. These tactics encompass innovations in AI and cloud technologies, forging strategic partnerships, diversifying service portfolios, and strengthening data security measures. By embracing these approaches, industry players aim to address changing customer needs and adhere to evolving regulatory and compliance standards, ensuring their competitive edge in the market.

Agricultural Drone Industry News

• In May 2021, Skycatch, a company specializing in drone data capture, secured $25 million in its most recent funding round, aimed at expanding its operations and product offerings. This funding comes in addition to the $13.2 million raised in a funding round dating back to 2014. The funding initiative was spearheaded by ADB Ventures and Wavemaker and stems from Skycatch's founding mission in 2013 to develop technology enabling Drone to capture highly precise image data, facilitating the creation of 3D scans.
   

The agricultural drone market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry, with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Million) from 2018 to 2032, for the following segments:

Click here to Buy Section of this Report

Market, By Product

• Hardware
  • Fixed wing
  • Multi rotor
  • Hybrid
• Software
  • Data management
  • Imaging
  • Data analytics
  • Others

Market, By Application

• Field mapping
• Variable rate application
• Crop Scouting 
• Others

The above information has been provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Netherlands
  • Nordics
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Southeast Asia 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
• MEA
  • UAE
  • Israel
  • South Africa