Alappuzha, Kerala:
The lush green paddy fields of Kuttanad have always been home to Devika and Devan Chandrasekharan. Born into a farming family, the siblings grew up amid the rhythms of agriculture. But the devastating 2018 Kerala floods marked a turning point — eroding fertile topsoil, crippling farming communities, and leaving many farmers hopeless.
Witnessing this crisis, the brother-sister duo decided to blend their engineering backgrounds with their farming roots. In 2020, they launched Fuselage Innovations, a pioneering agritech startup that designs customised drones for agriculture. Their innovation has since become a lifeline for hundreds of farmers, boosting yields by up to 40%.
From Family Fields to High-Tech Skies
Devika, an electrical and electronics engineer, and Devan, an aeronautical engineer, did not initially plan to work in agriculture. But the floods reshaped their perspective.
“Kerala’s land, usually fertile, was destroyed when the topsoil washed away. Farmers were left devastated. We wanted to build a solution that could truly help them,” recalls Devan.
Thus began Fuselage Innovations, a venture blending engineering, farming knowledge, and social impact.
Read Also: Agriculture drones market to hit USD 12-70 billion by 2030
What the Agri-Drones Do
Fuselage manufactures Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) specifically for farming. These drones are designed for:
Aerial plant surveys – mapping soil and crop health quickly and accurately.
Fertiliser and pesticide spraying – ensuring ultra-low volume, precision spraying.
Large-scale farmland coverage – up to 50 acres per day.
Instead of depending on manual labour, the drones deliver accurate nutrient spraying, reduce input waste, and save time.
Devan explains:
“Farmers spend about ₹5,000 for one spraying session. But they save nearly ₹15,000 by cutting labour costs, reducing fertiliser use, and improving efficiency. Yields increase up to 40%.”
Reach and Impact
Since its incorporation in 2020, Fuselage has helped over 370 farmers across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Large-scale farms, including tea plantations, have adopted their technology.
Top clients include:
Indian Agricultural Research Institute
Kerala Centre for Pest Management
Synthite Industries Pvt. Ltd.
Harrison Malayalam Ltd.
Farmers are already seeing measurable benefits. Sameer P, a paddy farmer cultivating 170 acres in Cherthala, says:
“Manual spraying used to take four rounds with many workers. With drones, it takes just two rounds, at half the cost. Every inch of the field is covered, without damaging plants.”
Support, Recognition, and Permits
Fuselage Innovations is also the first startup in Kerala to get permits from the Union Ministry of Agriculture and the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) for drone operations in agriculture.
The startup has won multiple grants and recognitions:
Nidhi Prayas (Ministry of Electronics) – for prototype development.
Seed fund assistance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Recognition by United Nations Development Program under SDG “Zero Hunger”.
TCS Foundation Digital Impact Square initiative grant.
Declared Best Performing Startup at Hackathon SCOUT 2021 by STPI Bhubaneswar & Ministry of Electronics.
Advisors supporting the startup include CA Girishankar, Athul Chandran (Design Engineer), and Dr. Berin Pathrose (Entomology, Kerala Agricultural University).
Farmers & Scientists Speak
Shinoj Subramaniyam, senior scientist at Ernakulam Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), says:
“Fuselage drones helped us test organic pesticides. This is a promising technology that can replace labour in paddy fields. The 70th day of sowing is ideal for drone spraying to get the best results.”
Farmers also highlight precision and savings: less fertiliser is used, fewer rounds of spraying are needed, and operations are faster — all of which reduce costs and raise yields.
A Mission Beyond Profits
While Devan handles technology, Devika manages the business side, ensuring smooth operations and partnerships.
“We began thinking it would be a tough business, but recognition and grants kept us going. More than profits, we feel proud that our work is helping farmers — without whom our survival is at stake,” says Devika.
Their journey reflects how innovation rooted in tradition can transform agriculture. From paddy fields in Alappuzha to farmlands across India, Fuselage Innovations is proving that drones are not just machines in the sky but tools for food security and farmer prosperity.