A major Indian tea producer is moving to automate one of the most labour-intensive steps in plantation supply chains: moving freshly harvested green leaf from field to factory. Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML) has completed trials of a payload drone for this purpose at its Lockhart Estate in Devikulam, near Munnar, according to a report by The Hindu BusinessLine.
The initiative, undertaken with drone technology partner Tropoworks, is aimed at improving field logistics, enhancing productivity, reducing manual handling, and ensuring faster movement of green leaf from the field to the factory. Initial trials have delivered encouraging results, highlighting the potential of payload drones to transform material movement in tea plantations.
Operational Benefits and Cost Impact
According to HML company officials, the adoption of such technologies has delivered significant cost savings and operational improvements. The benefits cited include:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Improved operational efficiency | Faster movement of green leaf reduces delays in processing |
| Reduced environmental impact | Precise input application minimises over-spray of agrochemicals |
| Enhanced worker safety | Less exposure of workers during spraying operations |
| Reduced residue levels | Better targeting leads to lower chemical residue on leaf |
| Significant cost savings | Not quantified in the report, but confirmed by company officials |
The trials build on HML’s long-standing commitment to technology-led transformation. The company was among the first large plantation companies in India to digitally transform its tea operations, introduce 100% battery-operated harvesting across its tea estates, and extensively deploy drones for tea and rubber operations. Today, all its estates rely on drone-assisted technologies for crop protection and field operations.
Industry Context and Adoption Path
HML expects that with further validation, it will be among the first tea plantation companies to deploy payload drones for routine green leaf transportation. The company credited the success of the trials to its field teams for adapting and refining emerging technologies under estate conditions, and acknowledged Tropoworks for its collaboration.
What This Means for Procurement and Supply Chain Teams
For procurement and operations leaders in agriculture and perishable goods, this trial demonstrates a viable path to reducing manual handling and transit time for harvested material. The use of payload drones can compress the window between harvest and processing, which is critical for quality preservation in tea and similar crops. While cost-per-kg data is not yet public, the combination of reduced labour dependency, lower residue levels, and faster throughput aligns with broader supply chain resilience and sustainability goals.
Forward Outlook
HML stated it will continue to work closely with technology partners, drone operators, and AI specialists to accelerate innovation across its plantation business. The next milestones will be larger-scale validation and cost assessment for routine deployment. Supply chain leaders should monitor HML’s progress as a potential benchmark for drone logistics in plantation agriculture.
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