SRINAGAR: The Government of India has launched a new initiative to support farmers with advanced drone technology for agricultural spraying. Under the scheme, titled ‘Namo Drone Didi’, the government aims to provide drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to offer rental services to farmers for spraying liquid fertilizers and pesticides.
The scheme, which has a financial outlay of Rs. 1,261 crores, spans from 2023 to 2026. The objective is to distribute a total of 15,000 drones, with the first 500 drones procured by Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) in the first phase of 2023-24.
The drones are being supplied with Central Financial Assistance of 80 per cent of the cost, up to Rs 8 lakh per drone, covering costs for drones, accessories, and ancillary charges. This support is aimed at enhancing the capacity of SHGs to assist farmers, particularly in rural areas, by providing affordable access to high-tech equipment for agricultural input applications.
As part of the scheme’s rollout, 206 drones are slated for distribution to SHGs in 2024-25, with a particular focus on the region of Punjab. In addition, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has already conducted 368 drone demonstrations in Punjab during 2024, covering an area of over 400 hectares for nutrient, fertilizer, and pesticide applications.
This initiative is seen as a step towards modernising Indian agriculture by promoting the use of drones to improve efficiency and reduce labour costs in the application of agricultural inputs while empowering women’s SHGs in rural areas.
In a separate question, the government said the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is intensifying its efforts to promote the use of Kisan Drones in Indian agriculture. Through the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), the government provides financial assistance for drone demonstrations on farmers’ fields, the purchase of drones by individual farmers, and the establishment of Custom Hiring Centres where drones can be rented for agricultural applications.
To ensure the safe and efficient use of Kisan Drones, the DA&FW released Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for drone applications, first in December 2021 for the spraying of pesticides and nutrients in agricultural, forestry, and non-cropped areas. These SOPs provide detailed instructions on flying permissions, safety, insurance, pilot certifications, emergency handling, and other operational guidelines. In April 2023, additional SOPs were released specifically for drone applications with pesticides, expanding the range of crops that can benefit from drone spraying.
From 2023-24 to 2024-25, institutions such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Agricultural Universities, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) conducted 26,920 drone demonstrations across India. These demonstrations, covering an area of 29,416 hectares, showcased the application of fertilizers, nutrients, and pesticides, following the established SOPs.
This initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to modernise agriculture by making advanced technology, such as drones, more accessible to farmers. By empowering women SHGs and encouraging the adoption of drone technology, the scheme aims to improve agricultural productivity, reduce the dependency on manual labour, and promote sustainable farming practices across the country.
