Lok Sabha Question No. 3283 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Funds for Kisan Drones
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kotagiri Sridhar, Midhun Reddy, Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3283

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST  MARCH 2023

## FUNDS FOR KISAN DRONES

3283.  SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI: SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY: SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  grants  available  and  released  under  Sub-Mission  on  Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) to Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes, Institutions of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), State Agricultural Universities  (SAUs)  and  Farmers  Producers  Organizations  (FPOs)  for  purchase  of Kisan Drones and Promotion thereof;
- (b)  the details of beneficiaries and funds released, category-wise, district-wise in the State of Gujarat;
- (c)  whether any efforts have been made by the Government to promote the use of drones for tech-driven farming, reducing the cost and increasing the income of farmers, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  the details of on field's response by farmers to Kisan Drone Promotion and the steps taken by the Government to create awareness among farmers in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a):  For  promotion  of  Kisan  Drones,  the following  provisions  have  been made  under the guidelines of Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM):

(i)  Financial assistance @ 100% of the cost of drone up to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakhs per drone is provided for purchase of drones for their demonstration by institutes under Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), State Agriculture Universities (SAUs), State and other Central Government Agricultural Institutions/Departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of Government of India engaged in agricultural activities. The Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) are provided grants up to 75% of the cost of agriculture drone for its demonstrations on the farmers'  fields.  A  contingency  expenditure  of  Rs.6000  per  hectare  is  provided  to  these implementing  agencies  that  do  not  want  to  purchase  drones  but  will  hire  drones  for demonstrations from Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), Hi-tech Hubs, Drone Manufacturers and Start-Ups. The contingent expenditure to implementing agencies that purchases drones for drone demonstrations is limited to Rs.3000 per hectare.

(ii) In order to make available drone services to farmers on rental basis, financial assistance @ 40% up to a maximum of Rs. 4.00 lakhs are provided for purchase of drones by CHCs under Cooperative Society of Farmers,  FPOs and  Rural entrepreneurs. Agriculture graduates establishing CHCs are eligible to receive financial assistance @ 50% of the cost of drone up to a maximum of Rs.5.00 lakhs per drone.

(iii)  For  purchase  of  drones  on  individual  ownership  basis,  the  Small  and  Marginal, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe, Women and North Eastern State farmers are provided financial assistance @ 50% of the cost up to a maximum of Rs. 5.00 lakhs and other farmers @ 40% up to a maximum of Rs. 4.00 lakhs.

Based on the proposals received so far, the funds amounting to Rs. 129.19 crores have been released towards Kisan Drone promotion which include Rs. 52.50 crores released to the ICAR for purchase of 300 Kisan Drones and organizing their demonstrations on the farmers' fields  in  75000  hectares  through  100  KVKs,  75  ICAR  institutions  and  25  SAUs.  It  also includes funds released to various State Governments for supply of more than 240 Kisan Drone to farmers on subsidy and establishment of more than 1500 Kisan Drone CHCs to provide drone services to the farmers.

(b): ICAR in their demonstration project included four SAUs, two ICAR Institutes and five KVKs of the Gujarat State and a total of 13 Kisan Drones have been sanctioned to them. The State of Gujarat has so far not submitted any proposal towards Kisan Drone subsidy and establishment of Kisan Drone CHCs under SMAM.

(c) and (d): The use of drone have some distinct advantages such as high field capacity and efficiency,  less  turnaround  time  and  other  field  operational  delays,  wastage  reduction  of pesticide and fertilizers due to high degree of atomization,   water saving due to ultra-low volume spraying technology in comparison to traditional spraying methods, reduction in cost of spraying and fertilizer application  in comparison to conventional methods etc. besides reduction of human exposure to hazardous chemicals. Scientific studies are carried out and data supporting the drone application are generated. Pilot studies with different approaches like  use  of  remote  sensing  technology  including  satellite  data  and  drone  based  images especially for crop cutting experiments planning, direct yield estimation at Gram Panchayat level,  risk  mapping of district  and for dispute/area discrepancy resolution etc. have been conducted  through  Mahalanobis  National  Crop  Forecasting  Centre  (MNCFC).  Standard Operating  Procedures  (SOPs)  which  provide  concise  instructions  for  effective  and  safe operations  of  drones  for  pesticide  and  nutrient  application  have  been  released.  The awareness among farmers is being created through demonstration and capacity building programmes.

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