India’s farmlands saw the use of over 60,000 tonnes of chemical pesticides every year between 2017 and 2022, as reported by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. While pesticides help protect crops from pests and diseases, the way they’re applied can have serious consequences.

For many farmers, spraying often means direct exposure to harmful chemicals, risks to family and livestock, and long-term effects on health and soil. Add to that the challenge of doing it manually in tough weather or without proper tools, and the risks only multiply.

This guide provides a step-by-step approach to spraying pesticides safely. You’ll learn when to spray, what to avoid, and how solutions like drone spraying are making this task faster, safer, and more reliable, especially for Indian farmers.

Key Takeaways

• Spraying during low wind and cool hours prevents drift and boosts effectiveness.

• Even wearing basic protective gear can reduce pesticide exposure

• Common mistakes like overmixing or spraying too close to water sources can damage crops and the environment

• Drone spraying cuts chemical contact completely and ensures even, targeted application

• With Leher, farmers get trained drone pilots, reliable equipment, and safe spraying done without hassle

Why Safe Pesticide Spraying Matters

Spraying pesticides without precautions can harm your health, your crops, and the environment. Knowing what’s at stake helps you make safer, smarter decisions in the field.

Here’s what’s at stake if pesticide spraying isn’t handled safely:

1. Health Hazards for Farmers: Direct exposure can cause skin burns, eye irritation, respiratory issues, and long-term health complications. Don’t risk your health to protect your crops. Book drone spraying through Leher and let trained pilots handle the job safely.

2. Crop Damage from Misapplication: Spraying during high temperatures or with the wrong dilution can cause leaf burn or reduced crop growth.

3. Environmental Contamination: Pesticide drift can harm nearby plants, pollute water sources, and affect local biodiversity.

4. Chemical Resistance: Repeated misuse may reduce pesticide effectiveness, making future pest control more difficult and expensive.

5. Residue on Produce: Unsafe spraying can lead to excessive residue, rendering crops unfit for market or failing compliance checks.

Spraying at the wrong time can lead to poor pest control and wasted pesticides; timing it right helps you get full value from every spray.

Best Time to Spray Pesticides

Spraying at the right time helps pesticides work better and keeps your crops healthier. A few simple changes in timing can improve results and reduce waste.

• Spray early in the morning or late in the evening: These cooler times help the pesticide stay on the leaves longer, giving plants more time to absorb it.

• Avoid spraying on windy or rainy days: Wind can blow the spray away from the plants, and rain can wash it off before it works.

• Spray when pests are active: Watch for signs of pest activity. Spraying when they are feeding increases the chance of getting rid of them.

• Match the crop’s growth stage: Different stages of crop growth need different levels of care. Spraying at the right time helps protect the crop without causing harm.

Want perfectly timed pesticide sprays? Leher’s drone service ensures your crops are sprayed at just the right moment.

Many farmers lose yield not because of poor pesticides, but because of simple mistakes made during their application.

Mistakes to Avoid While Spraying

Being careful during spraying can protect your health, save input costs, and prevent crop damage. These are some common mistakes to avoid during pesticide application.

1. Spraying during high heat or wind

When the sun is strong or the wind picks up, spray can drift away or evaporate before it settles on the crop. This means less protection for your plants and wasted inputs.

2. Not using protective gear

Gloves, masks, and full-sleeve clothing aren’t optional. Without them, your skin, eyes, and lungs are exposed to chemicals that can cause burns, irritation, or long-term health issues.

3. Mixing chemicals without checking instructions

Not all pesticides or fertilisers can be combined safely. Mixing products without reading the label can reduce their effectiveness or create a harmful reaction that damages crops.

4. Ignoring nozzle direction or pressure

If the nozzle is misaligned or pressure is too low or too high, the spray won’t cover your crops evenly. This leads to patchy protection and may require another round of spraying. Make every drop count. Leher drones use just the right amount, right where it’s needed.

5. Skipping buffer zones

Spraying too close to water bodies, homes, or livestock areas can lead to contamination. Always maintain a safe distance to protect nearby areas and adhere to local safety regulations.

6. Overapplying in a rush

Applying too much pesticide may seem like it’ll solve the problem faster, but it often does more harm than good. Overuse can stress the plant, pollute the soil, and increase resistance in pests.

To stay safe while spraying pesticides, every farmer should follow a few key practices that protect both health and harvest.

Safety Practices Every Farmer Should Follow

These small steps go a long way in preventing harm to you, your crops, and the environment. Make them a regular part of your spray routine.

1. Wear gloves, goggles, masks, and long clothing: These act as your first line of defence against chemical exposure. Even small amounts can cause irritation or long-term harm.

2. Keep people and animals away during spraying: Drift from pesticides can harm others nearby. Make sure fields are clear while spraying and for some time afterwards.

3. Clean equipment thoroughly after each use: Residue from previous sprays can damage crops or react badly with new chemicals. Always rinse tanks, nozzles, and pipes well.

4. Wash hands and clothes immediately after spraying: This prevents you from carrying pesticide residue back home or spreading it to others.

5. Store pesticides in clearly labelled containers: Avoid reusing bottles or mixing up chemicals. Proper labels and safe storage reduce accidents and product waste.

If spraying feels risky or unreliable, Leher offers a safer, faster, and more precise way to get the job done while keeping you out of harm's way.

How Leher Makes Pesticide Spraying Safer and Smarter

For many farmers, spraying pesticides still means walking through fields with heavy tanks, inhaling chemicals, and hoping for even coverage. It’s tiring, time-consuming, and often unsafe. That’s where Leher steps in with a simpler, safer, and more reliable approach to crop protection.

Leher offers drone-powered pesticide spraying that eliminates manual labour and reduces health risks. Whether you manage a small farm or a large estate, Leher connects you with trained drone pilots who handle the spraying with speed, precision, and care, so you can focus on your crops, not the chemicals.

• Avoid Direct Exposure to Chemicals: Leher’s trained drone pilots handle the spraying while you and your workers stay safely away from harmful pesticide contact.

• Ensure Even Coverage with No Gaps or Overlap: Our drones follow pre-mapped flight paths to deliver consistent spraying, protecting every part of your field while minimising overuse.

• Get Accurate Reports After Every Spray: Every spray session is digitally tracked and recorded, so you know exactly what was sprayed, when, and how much, right down to the last drop.

• Book Spray Services Without Hassle: Whether you're in a remote village or a large farm estate, the Leher App or WhatsApp booking system makes it simple to schedule pesticide spraying in your preferred language.

• Protect Your Soil and Water Sources: Drone spraying uses targeted application, reducing runoff and preventing pesticides from contaminating nearby soil or water bodies.

• Save Time and Labour Costs: One drone can spray up to 50 acres in a day, freeing up your team for other important farm work and reducing your overall spraying expenses.

Tired of breathing chemicals while spraying your fields? Leher's drone service keeps you out of harm’s way while ensuring your crops are fully protected. Stay safe, save time, and get better results. Book your first drone spray today.

FAQs

1. What’s the best time of day to spray pesticides?
Early morning or late evening is ideal. Cooler temperatures reduce evaporation and drift, allowing better pesticide absorption by crops.

2. Can I mix pesticides with other inputs like foliar fertiliser?
Only if the label clearly permits it. Always follow manufacturer guidelines to avoid chemical reactions that may reduce effectiveness or harm the crop.

3. How do I avoid harming myself during spraying?
Wear protective gear such as gloves, goggles, and masks. Avoid direct contact with treated plants, and wash thoroughly after spraying. To stay completely safe, consider using a drone service instead.

4. Is drone spraying allowed for pesticides in India?
Yes. Drone spraying is permitted under the Ministry of Agriculture and DGCA guidelines. Leher follows all approved protocols to ensure safe and legal spraying.

5. What crops benefit most from drone-based pesticide spraying?
Crops like tea, cotton, paddy, sugarcane, and rubber respond well. Any crop that needs timely and uniform spraying over large areas can benefit.