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The Sibling Duo Triple Farmers' Income with High-Flying Innovation

For many farmers, the path to a successful harvest is fraught with challenges, from unpredictable soil health to the rising costs of fertilizers.

 In Kerala, siblings Devika and Devan Chandrasekharan are changing this narrative by taking to the skies. Through their startup, Fuselage Innovations, they are using advanced drone technology to help farmers boost their income and embrace sustainable practices.

A Mission Born from Resilience

The inspiration for this groundbreaking work came after the devastating Kerala floods, which stripped away vital topsoil and left fertile land destroyed. Determined to help, these two engineers launched Fuselage Innovations in 2020 with a clear mission: to boost farm yields across the region.

Meet the Drones: Niriksh and Fiya

The startup has developed two specialized, cloud-connected drones that work in tandem to optimize farm management:

• Niriksh: This drone is equipped with sensors designed for plant mapping. It can identify early-stage problems such as nutrient deficiencies and pest infestations.

• Fiya: Once Niriksh analyzes the land, Fiya is deployed to provide targeted treatment, spraying only the specific plants or areas that need help.

Real Impact on the Ground

The results of this precision farming approach are transformative. By shifting away from blanket spraying and toward targeted care, the impact on a farmer's bottom line is significant:

• Yield Increase: Adopting these drone protocols helps boost crop yields by 25-35 percent.

• Reduced Costs: Farmers have seen a massive 75 percent dip in the use of fertilizers and nutrients.

• Triple Profits: Because of increased efficiency and lower input costs, farmers' profits have become three times higher.

Making Tech Accessible

High-tech solutions often come with high price tags, with these drones costing between Rs 4-7 lakh. To ensure small-scale farmers can benefit, the duo offers a service model, charging a manageable Rs 2,000-5,000 per acre. To date, they have already worked with more than 3,500 farmers.

Devika and Devan’s work proves that when nature-inspired resilience meets modern technology, the potential to transform rural communities is limitless.

SOURCE:The Better India