Accepted Paper
Paper short abstract
This paper studies the diffusion of drones in agricultural production in an agrarian district in India. It finds that adoption was driven by a local unregulated market led by the dominant agrarian classes. The reach, and implications of drones was influenced by the agrarian structure.
Paper long abstract
Digital technologies are regarded as having the potential to transform different stages of the agri-value chain. This understanding, shared by multilateral organizations, agri-businesses, and research institutions, is reflected in India’s recent policy initiatives as well. The adoption of digital technologies in agricultural production, however, remains limited. Drone technology is a notable exception in, at least, a few regions in India.
This study examines the process of diffusion of agricultural drones through a case study of Nalgonda, a predominantly agrarian district in the state of Telangana. The scaling-up of drones in Nalgonda illustrates how technology adoption is shaped by its intrinsic features, policy environment, wider institutional setup, and, most importantly, the prevalent agrarian structure that the technology operates in.
Agricultural drones offer distinct advantages in terms of lower rental costs, efficiency in time and water-use, and marked reductions in drudgery and exposure to chemicals. Notwithstanding these advantages, the uptake of drones, the paper reveals, is largely due to the development of a local unregulated market for drones, led by the dominant agrarian class and caste of the region – which operates with greater flexibility than its regulated counterpart.
The economics of drone operation, and its ongoing technological evolution favours larger and consolidated landholdings. However, the emergence of competitive custom-hiring markets and collective action among smallholders are countering this scale bias, enabling wider adoption.
The study concludes that the reach, adoption, and implications of digital technologies is the outcome of a complex interplay of conflicting class interests that define the agrarian structure.
Tension? Competing Visions for Digital Agriculture and Rural Development: Smallholder Agency vs profitable business models at scale.