New Delhi : The use of drones in agriculture has distinct advantages like increased efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and proper use of fertilizers and pesticides, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ramnath Thakur said.
The government has approved a central sector scheme for providing drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs 1261 Crores for the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26. This aims to provide drones to 15000 selected SHGs on a rental basis to farmers for agriculture purposes (application of fertilizers and pesticides).
The use of drones helps the agriculture sector with distinct advantages like increased efficiency, cost-effectiveness due to reduction in the cost of spraying, saving of fertilizers and pesticides because of a high degree of atomization, saving of water due to ultra-low volume spraying, besides reduction of human exposure to hazardous chemicals, the minister said.
As per information, provisions have been made under the scheme to train one of the members of women SHG which includes five days of mandatory drone pilot training and an additional ten days of training on the operation of drones for spraying nutrients and pesticides. Other SHG members or family members with a penchant for the repair of electrical items, fittings and mechanical works will be trained as drone assistants.
This will help in infusing advanced technology in agriculture for improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield and reduced cost of operation for the benefit of farmers and will also provide sustainable business and livelihood support to SHGs and they would be able to earn additional income.
Of the total 15,000 drones, the first 500 drones were procured by Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) in 2023-24, using their internal resources and distributed to selected SHGs. The remaining 14500 drones are to be provided under this scheme during 2024-25 and 2025- 26 with Central Financial Assistance of 80 per cent of the cost of drone and accessories/ancillary charges up to a maximum of Rs 8.0 lakhs per drone, MoS Ramnath Thakur, said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
The SHGs have to raise the balance amount (total cost of procurement minus subsidy) as a loan under the National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility (AIF). Interest subvention at 3 per cent on the AIF loan will also be available to the SHGs, he informed.
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