Abstract

Nowadays, the advancements of drone technology are increasing exponentially. Drones have become very popular and are used in various business sectors, including but not limited to, civil protection, logistics, filmmaking, construction, environment and agriculture. The prospects offered by drones for the agricultural sector are constantly expanding. Some typical drone applications are soil sampling and fertilizing, pesticide spraying, animal population surveillance, real-time imagery and sensor data collection, and field management. These can result in cost and time saving, reduced labor intensity, improved crop quality, and increased yields, thus enabling smart and precision agriculture. The purpose of this study is to investigate farmers’ awareness and intention to use drones in daily agricultural practice. The research focuses on the case of Greece and obtains data from personal interviews with fifty farmers. The findings reveal that although Greek farmers have a positive attitude towards using drones in their cultivation activities, they lack knowledge and skills. To drive drone agricultural applications acceptance and use, policy makers, agricultural extension officers and researchers should cooperate in planning, development and education. The paper concludes with guidelines for facilitating the adoption of agriculture drone applications by agricultural stakeholders.

Keywords: Drones; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; Agriculture; Farmers; Agricultural practices; Greece