Case studies by crop · Arable

Drought in Turkey: less spray water

DJI Agriculture case study, collected by FLYDROPS.

Turkey often has drought, with 2021 the driest year in 20 years. In Aksaray, Konya and Karaman, farmers who spray with the Agras T30 and T20P say they use up to 95% less water and that 25 decares are sprayed in 8–10 minutes.

The Aksaray Chamber of Agriculture bought two spraying drones.

At a glance

Regions	Aksaray, Konya, Karaman (Central Anatolia), Turkey
Crops	Wheat, barley, sunflower (Thrace)
Drone	DJI Agras T30, T10 and T20P
Information source	Shark Aviation and the farmers’ own statements
Area unit	1 decare (dönüm) = 1,000 m²

The study uses the T30 / T20P, an earlier generation. The current range is DJI Agras T100, T70P, T55 and T25P; find which one fits your acreage or compare the models.

The challenge

In Central Anatolia water is the constraint: conventional application uses about 25 litres per decare. Farmers also describe how the tractor becomes impossible after a certain growth stage, how it crushes wheat and barley (a 7–10% loss), how it cannot enter mud and how spraying by day in the heat or at night in humidity leads to excess chemical use.

What was done

In 2022, after insects attacked sunflowers in Thrace, the Aksaray Chamber of Agriculture held a drone spraying demonstration for farmers in the area. After seeing the results it bought two spraying drones and in 2023 planned to offer services to all farmers in Aksaray. Farmers from Konya and Karaman describe their own experience with the Agras T30 and T10, for crops that cover the whole field.

The results

Measure (farmers’ statements)	Conventional method	With drone
Water per decare (Konya)	25 L	1 L
Water (Aksaray)	About 1 tonne	30–40 L
Time for 25 decares	45–60 minutes	8–10 minutes
Capacity in 12 hours	400–500 decares with 2 tractors and 3 people	Up to 2,000 decares with 1 person
Crop damage	7–10%	Avoided

The numbers come from the study and relate to that specific application.

The study generalises that spraying drones can save up to 95% of water; the numbers above are statements by specific farmers, not measurements from a controlled trial.

What it means for Greece

Drought and water scarcity concern Greece too, with repeated dry years across large areas. The Thrace mentioned in the study borders our own Thrace. The question for you: how much water an application needs today and how hard it is to carry it to the field. The units are familiar: 1 decare = 1,000 m².

Rules and responsibilities

In Greece, applying plant protection products from the air, drones included, is prohibited as a rule and allowed only by derogation with a special permit. The study shows what happened in another country; it does not mean the same application is allowed in Greece. The product label always applies, and we do not repeat doses or products here. See the framework in the spraying drone buying guide and confirm it with the competent authority.