In a first, a tea plantation company has used drone seeding technology to carry out the eco-restoration of 15 acres of land previously covered with exotic eucalyptus trees, which were once used as fuel in tea factories. According to officials, the technology was deployed at the Pattumallay Estate, operated by Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML), near the Peerumade hills in Idukki.

HML vice-president Anil George noted that when the company decided to restore the plot, it opted for aerial seeding to ensure effective distribution. “Through the project, a 24-species native assemblage representing trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas was sourced from the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) seed bank. The seeds dispersed on the site include Terminalia bellirica (Thanni), Spondias pinnata (Kattambazham), Albizia falcataria (Kattamaram), Phyllanthus emblica (Indian Gooseberry/Nelli), and Wrightia tinctoria (Dhanthapala),” said Mr. George. “The drone-seeding technology was a big success, and we plan to replicate the model in other areas,” he added.

Mr. George further noted that deploying drone technology was aimed at reducing labour costs, improve coverage uniformity, and minimise soil disturbance during establishment. “As part of the project, 1,12,178 seeds were distributed across the 15 acres using drone dispersal and seed ball applications. We expect to achieve a minimum plant density of 5,000 plants per hectare (30,000 plants in total) by the end of the five-year establishment period,” the official said.

According to officials, a Rapid Biodiversity Assessment (RBA) was conducted in the area prior to starting the restoration. “The baseline assessment confirmed the presence of 24 native species in and around the site, indicating that the soil is capable of supporting natural regeneration. It was found that eucalyptus monocultures deplete soil moisture, suppress undergrowth, and reduce native biodiversity. The proposed restoration site is close to the natural grasslands of the Parunthumpara hills,” the official explained.

Recently, HML also deployed drone-based transport to move freshly harvested green leaves from tea fields to weighment centres and processing factories. Those transport trials were carried out at the Lockhart Estate, operated by HML near Devikulam in Munnar.

Published - August 15, 2026 08:26 pm IST