Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar- The Center releases Rs. 127 crores to promote Kisan Drones

According to Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, funds totaling Rs., 126.99 crores have been released to promote Kisan Drones based on proposals received thus far. Tomar stated in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Friday that this includes Rs. 52.50 crores released to the ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) for the purchase of 300 Kisan Drones and organizing demonstrations on farmers' fields in 75,000 hectares via 100 KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras), 75 ICAR institutions, and 25 SAUs (State Agricultural Universities).

Additionally, funds have been released to various state governments for the establishment of more than 1500 Kisan Drone CHCs (Custom Hiring Centers) and the provision of more than 300 Kisan Drones on a subsidized basis to farmers. The use of Kisan Drones has the potential to give people in rural areas a lot of employment opportunities.

According to Tomar, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is encouraging farmers to use Kisan Drones. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which offer clear guidelines for the efficient and secure operation of drones for the application of pesticides and nutrients, have been published. The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), according to the agriculture minister in the upper house of the Indian parliament, also offers financial assistance.

Institutes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), State Agriculture Universities (SAUs), state and other Central government agricultural institutions, departments, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) of the Government of India engaged in agricultural activities are eligible for financial assistance at 100% of the cost of the drone up to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakhs per drone. For their demonstrations on the farmers' fields, farmer-producer organizations (FPOs) receive grants that can cover up to 75% of the cost of agricultural drones.

Implementing agencies are given a contingency budget of Rs. 6,000 per hectare if they decide not to buy drones but rather hire them for demonstrations from specialized hiring facilities, high-tech hubs, drone manufacturers, and startups. According to Tomar, the contingent expense to implementing agencies that buy drones for drone demonstrations is capped at Rs. 3,000 per hectare.

Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) under cooperative societies of farmers, FPOs, and rural entrepreneurs offer financial assistance at 40% up to a maximum of Rs. 4 lakhs for the purchase of Kisan Drones to make drone services available to farmers on a rental basis. The agriculture minister also informed the parliament that agricultural graduates who are opening CHCs are eligible for financial assistance at 50% of the cost of drones, up to a maximum of Rs. 5 lakhs per drone.

Small and marginal farmers, farmers from scheduled castes and tribes, women, and farmers from the northeastern state are given financial assistance for the individual purchase of drones at a rate of 50% of the cost up to a maximum of Rs. 5 lakhs, and other farmers are given a rate of 40% up to a maximum of Rs. 4 lakhs, he said.

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