Drone spraying charges per acre in Bihar
Drone spraying in Bihar typically costs ₹400 to ₹550 per acre for field crops in 2026 — below the roughly ₹520 all-India average, because plot density is high and operators can fly many acres without moving the vehicle. Orchard work costs more. Chemical is almost always charged separately.
| Crop | Rate per acre | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Paddy / rice | ₹400 – ₹500 | Highest volume crop; rates soften in peak season on block bookings |
| Wheat | ₹400 – ₹480 | Short window, mostly fungicide and micronutrient passes |
| Maize | ₹450 – ₹550 | Taller canopy needs a slower pass, so effective acres per hour drop |
| Sugarcane | ₹500 – ₹650 | Manual spraying is genuinely hazardous here — drone premium is accepted |
| Litchi / mango orchards | ₹600 – ₹900 | Per-tree geometry, careful flying, lowest acres per hour |
| Pulses and oilseeds | ₹400 – ₹500 | Small, scattered plots; mobilisation cost dominates |
What the rate includes
A normal Bihar quote covers the drone, the certified pilot, batteries and the flying itself. It does not normally cover the chemical, water, or transport if your plot is far from the operator's base. Ask three questions before agreeing: is the chemical included, is there a minimum acreage per visit, and what happens if wind stops the job halfway through.
Subsidised and free passes
Through Krishi Vigyan Kendras, custom hiring centres and Namo Drone Didi SHG groups, farmers in several Bihar districts pay a subsidised rate or nothing at all for demonstration passes. These are limited and seasonal, but worth asking your block agriculture office about before paying commercial rates. Current schemes are listed here.
If you are the operator, not the farmer
At ₹450 per acre, a 10-litre machine flying 25–30 acres a day grosses ₹11,000–₹13,500. Batteries, charging fuel, travel, pilot wage and the honest amortisation of a ₹6–10 lakh aircraft eat a large share of that; the difference between a good and a bad season is utilisation, not rate. Run your own numbers in the economics model rather than trusting a dealer's payback slide.
Related
Rates are indicative market ranges gathered from operators and published scheme material, not quotations. Confirm with a local provider before budgeting a season.