The Government of India has declared its financial support for the usage of drones in the country’s agriculture sector in order to experience growth and development through the inculcation of technology on the farm.
The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has issued guidelines to make drone technology easily accessible and affordable to investors, farmers and stakeholders in the industry.
According to the Government, the Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) is eligible to receive grant up to 75 percent of the cost of the agriculture drone for its demonstrations on the farmer’s field.
Thegovernment in achieving this goal hassubsidised the cost of the drone and its attachments to make it easier to purchase. Reports indicate that, “40 per cent of the basic cost of drone and its attachments or Rs.4 lakhs, which would be available as financial assistance for drone purchase by existing Customer Hiring Centres (CHCs) which are set up by the Cooperative Society of Farmers (CSFS), FPOs and rural entrepreneurs.”
The Government and the Agriculture Departments estimate that thesubsidised drones for the CHCs will contribute to the affordability of the drone which will result in expanding its customer and user base. With this initiative, India is set to make it available for the ordinary farmer to adopt its use on the farm which will help increase yields on the farm, and promote less human supervision or labour on the farm.
Also, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare have initiated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for use of drone application. The SOPs include pesticide application with drones for crop protection. These guidelines have been prepared to monitor and supervise the use of the drones.
Aside making the drones less expensive, the government has provided a contingency of Rs.6000 per hectare to implementing agencies that are not interested in purchasing drones, but hire the drones for demonstrations from CHCs, Hi-tech Hubs, Drone Manufacturers and Start-Ups.
The report from the government has revealed that the financial assistance and support for the adoption of drone technology on the farm would be available until March 31, 2023.
The key players in the industry urge all farmers and investors to take advantage of the drone technology and the immense benefits it would add to the agriculture sector when it is adopted to aid in crop production in the country.
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