Agricultural drones have become one of the most talked-about topics among family farms and growers from Pelješac to the Neretva valley. Yet there is a lot of confusion around them — what they can actually do, what is legally allowed and what is not, and how much it all costs. This article explains it calmly and concretely: what a drone is used for in practice, what the prices are, and who benefits most from the investment.
What an agricultural drone does
In Croatian agriculture, a drone is above all a tool for inspection, measurement and targeted support of the crop. It is most often used for the following:
- Mapping and orthophoto — a precise map of the plot, area calculation and insight into the terrain.
- NDVI monitoring — imaging with a vegetation index that shows where the crop is weaker, stressed or troubled before it becomes visible to the naked eye.
- Foliar feeding — applying fertilizers and biostimulants over the leaf, useful on terraces and terrain that a tractor struggles to reach.
- Watering and spreading of permitted materials — on plots where access is difficult.
A drone does not replace an agronomist and does not guarantee yield. It provides better data and access to hard-to-reach areas, while decisions are still made by the person who knows the crop.
Pesticide spraying by drone — what the law says
This is the most important part, because it is where the most misinformation spreads. Pesticide spraying from a drone is currently not permitted in Croatia or the EU. A drone that sprays a product is legally treated as an aircraft, and aerial pesticide treatment is prohibited under the Act on Sustainable Use of Pesticides (NN 32/20) and Directive 2009/128/EC. In addition, no registered plant-protection product is approved for aerial application.
In other words — regardless of what you may sometimes hear or see in other countries, pesticides cannot legally be sprayed by drone here.
There are signs that the rules could change through the announced EU reforms (the so-called omnibus package during 2025/2026), but this is uncertain for now and nothing is guaranteed. If this service interests you for the future, you can register your interest in advance and we will notify you if the framework changes. We write more about the legal status and plant protection on our drone spraying page.
What a drone flight looks like in practice
Every commercial drone flight is subject to the rules of the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (HACZ). This means the operator must be registered and fly in accordance with unmanned aircraft regulations. When you hire a vetted provider, that side is already covered and you do not have to deal with the paperwork.
How much an agricultural drone costs
The price depends on the type of service, the size and the terrain of the plot. Indicative prices for our services are:
- Mapping — from €20/ha
- NDVI monitoring — from €30/ha
- Foliar feeding — from €45/ha (terraced and more demanding from €65/ha)
- Half-day outing — from €450
- Full-day outing — from €850
The minimum fee is €120, and for areas larger than 3 ha it is waived. For locations more than 30 km away, €0.80/km is added. A full overview is in our pricing, and all services are described on the services page.
If you are considering buying your own drone, keep in mind that beyond the aircraft itself come the costs of training, registration, maintenance and image processing. For most family farms, hiring a provider occasionally is more cost-effective than owning equipment.
Who benefits most from a drone
The greatest benefit goes to crops on demanding terrain and to cultures where timely information matters a lot:
- Vineyards on the slopes of Pelješac, Hvar and Korčula, where machinery access is difficult — more on the vineyards page.
- Olive groves on Brač and Šolta, where NDVI monitoring detects stress early — see olive groves.
- Orchards and citrus in the Neretva valley — details on orchards and citrus.
- Hard-to-reach plots where any other access is expensive or impossible — difficult terrain.
If you need regular insight into the state of your crop, mapping and monitoring offers the fastest return, because problems are solved before they become costly.
Conclusion
An agricultural drone is today a useful and legal tool for mapping, NDVI monitoring and foliar feeding — while pesticide spraying remains legally prohibited. If you want an assessment for your plot or are curious about what is possible on your terrain, get in touch and we will gladly help you with a concrete proposal.