Requirements for adopting drones by farmers in paddy fields in the Haraz Plain watershed, Iran

Drone technology has gained popularity in recent years as a sustainable solution to changing agricultural conditions. Using drones in agriculture provides several managerial and environmental benefits. However, the use of drones in paddy fields in Iran is a new phenomenon facing numerous deficiencies, mainly due to the lack of clear standards. This study aims to explore the problems and requirements for using drones in paddy fields and provide practical guidelines for clear requirements in their application. Content analysis was used based on individual qualitative interviews with 15 experts. The results of analyzing the requirements of using drones in paddy fields indicated four categories consisting of "Infrastructures", "Knowledge and Soft Skills", "Effective Governance", and "Awareness and Compliance with Flight Standards". An understanding of these requirements can help policy-makers, specialists, extension agents, and farmers to develop and introduce clear standards and define appropriate practical procedures for the use of drone innovation in paddy fields.