Munnar’s tea estates are turning to drone technology to tackle one of the toughest challenges in plantation operations — transporting freshly plucked tea leaves across steep and difficult terrain.
A pilot project at Lockhart Estate in Devikulam has successfully tested a drone capable of carrying a 10-kilogram load of tea leaves from high-altitude plantation areas to a road-accessible location. The trial covered distances of up to 3 kilometres and elevations ranging from 100 to 300 feet.
Currently, women workers often carry heavy sacks of freshly plucked leaves for long distances over steep slopes before the produce can be transported to factories. The new system could help reduce physical strain, save time and improve operational efficiency.
Estate authorities are now exploring drones with capacities of 50 to 100 kilograms. If the system proves commercially viable, a permanent drone-based tea transport network could be introduced across the estates.
