Lok Sabha Question No. 2586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-02
Subject: Drone Technology
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman, M.K. Vishnu Prasad, Khagen Murmu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2586

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  AUGUST 2022

## DRONE TECHNOLOGY

2586. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN: DR. VISHNU PRASAD M.K.: SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to draft a policy on using drone technology for spraying pesticides as well as other soil and crop nutrients in the farm sector and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has any plans to either provide subsidies for purchasing drones or providing drones on rent by Panchayats to farmers and if so, the details thereof and the manner in which it would be helpful in generating employment;
- (c) whether the  Ministry  has  released  the  Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SOP)  for use  of  drone  in  pesticide  application  for  crop  protection  and  spraying  soil  and  crop nutrients  to  promote  chemical-free  natural  farming  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  promoting  drone  technology  which  is  useful  in agriculture and it will benefit poor farmers in rural areas who have less income and if so, whether some funds have been arranged through NABARD;
- (e) whether it is a fact that the use of unmanned aerial vehicles has great potential to revolutionize agriculture and ensure food security in the country; and
- (f) whether use of drones in agriculture can give employment to people in rural areas and if so, the measures taken to reduce the technology gap in rural areas?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (f): To promote the use of drones in agriculture, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has released the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for use of drones  in  pesticide  and  nutrient  application,  which  provide  concise  instructions  for effective  and  safe  operations  of  drones.  In  order  to  make  drone  technology  affordable and available to the farmers and other stakeholders of this sector, financial assistance @

100  %  cost  of  drone  (upto  Rs.  10  lakhs  per  drone)  together  with  the  contingent expenditure is provided under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) to the Institutions  of  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  KrishiVigyanKendras (KVKs),  State  Agricultural  Universities  (SAUs),  State  and  other  Central  Government Agricultural Institutions/Departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of Government  of  India  engaged  in  agricultural  activities  for  its  demonstration  on  the farmer's fields. Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) are provided grants @ 75% for purchase  of  drones  for  its  demonstration  on  the  farmers'  fields.In  order  to  provide agricultural services through drone application, financial assistance @ 40% of the basic cost of drone and its attachments up to a maximum of Rs. 4.00 lakhsis also provided for drone  purchase  by  the  Custom  Hiring  Centers  (CHCs)  under  Cooperative  Society  of Farmers,  FPOs and  Rural  entrepreneurs.  The  agriculture  graduates  establishing  CHCs are eligible to receive financial assistance @ 50% of the cost of drone up to a maximum Rs.5.00 lakhs. The individual Small and Marginal Farmers, Scheduled Castes (SCs)/Scheduled Tribes (STs) farmers, Women Farmers and the Farmers of the North Eastern  States  are  also  provided  assistance  @  50%  of  the  cost  of  drone  up  to  a maximum of Rs. 5.00 lakhs and the other farmers @ 40% of the cost of drone up to a maximum  of  Rs.  4.00  lakhs.The  Department  so  far  has  provided  funds  amounting  to Rs.2.25  crores  to  the  Government  of  Kerala  for  purchase  of  14  drones  and  their demonstration in 4000 hectares through FPOs and Rs.52.50 crores to ICAR for purchase of 300 drones and their demonstrations in 75000 hectares through 100 KVKs, 75 ICAR Institutions  and  25  SAUs  across  the  country.Through  these  initiatives,  it  has  been envisaged that the use of drones in agriculture will provide ample opportunities to provide employment to people in rural areas.

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