Hyderabad: City-based drone manufacturer, Marut Drones said it has been granted the world’s first utility patent for a term of 20 years, under the provisions of the Patents Act, 1970. This patent recognises Marut’s direct seeding drone, developed in collaboration with Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University (PJTSAU), which incorporates a multi-nozzle aerial seed dispensing device.
The startup in an official release said that the seeding drone has received the patent following scientific validation by PJTSAU, which has also released Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for their use.
Prem Kumar Vislawath, CEO and Founder, Marut Drones, said: “This patented technology will revolutionise rice farming practices in India. By reducing on-farm manual labour through drone technology, we aim to address the persistent challenges faced by farmers, particularly labour shortages due to rapid urbanization. From seeding paddy to controlling mosquitoes and pests in rice fields, labour costs pose significant hurdles. Through our collaboration with PJTSAU, we seek to promote the widespread adoption of Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) through drones.”
The CEO further said that by using DSR drones, farmers can achieve 92 per cent reduction in water usage, accelerating RoI, and profitability timelines from three years to 17 months.
