The agriculture drones market is projected to reach USD 17.9 billion by 2028, with a forecasted CAGR of 31.5% from 2023 to 2028. This growth is primarily driven by the increasing demand for efficiency, sustainability, and profitability in modern agriculture practices.
The Asia Pacific (APAC) region is expected to dominate the agriculture drones market. APAC presents significant opportunities for the adoption of agriculture drones due to its vast farmlands and high population growth rate. Countries like China, Japan, India, Australia, and New Zealand are major contributors to the market in this region. In APAC, the uptake of agriculture drones is fueled by factors such as the rising food demand, the need for improved yields despite limited resources, and the necessity to protect crops from unpredictable weather conditions.
China, in particular, is leading in the development of innovative drone technologies, with a focus on manufacturing them at affordable costs. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is actively working on the development of medium-range drones like the CH-4, and they have also shown interest in short-range drones. China has plans to deploy drones in various provinces for surveying and information security missions. Several organizations, including Beijing Wisewell Avionics Science and Technology Company, Nanjing Research Institute on Simulation Technique, and Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, are actively involved in drone development in China.
China’s thriving agricultural machinery industry can be attributed to its favorable economy and extensive agricultural activities. The government’s support and investment in agriculture also play a crucial role in the development of the agriculture drones market in the country. As a result, the demand for agricultural drones is steadily increasing, leading to the adoption of precision farming devices by farmers. Many industry players have established agriculture drone service networks in China to meet the growing demand from farmers and agronomists.
Major players in the agriculture drone market include DJI (China), PrecisionHawk (US), Trimble Inc. (US), Parrot (France), Bayer CropScience AG (Germany), and others, showcasing the global reach and diversity of the industry.