Lok Sabha Question No. 1521 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-15
Subject: Drone Facilities for Agricultural Sector
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1521

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  15th December 2022 )

## DRONE FACILITIES FOR AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

1521.    SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  focusing  on  drone  facilities  within  the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the number of areas likely to be covered under this facility;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to focus on agriculture sector of the country in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of ways in which drone would help agriculture sector?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION      (GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

- (a)  to  (b):  Yes  Sir,  Drones  have  applications  in  almost  all  sectors  of  the economy. These include agriculture, vaccine delivery, surveillance, search and rescue, transportation, mapping, defence and law enforcement to name a few.

The Government released the liberalised Drone Rules, 2021 on 25th August 2021. In order to encourage manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Ministry of Civil Aviation has sensitised various Union Ministries and State governments to promote use of drones.

Drone outreach programmes were conducted in various States and Union Territories  to  promote  use  of  drones,  encourage  startups  for  innovation, research and development in the emerging sector.

DGCA has approved 36 Remote Pilot Training Organisations which are more commonly  known  as  Drone  schools.  In  order  to  skill  people  in  the  safe handling of drones, these facilities have already trained over 1900 drone pilots.

(c) to (d) In order to promote the use of drone technology in agriculture, the following provisions have been made under the guidelines of Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) being implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW): (i)  Financial assistance @ 100% of the cost of agriculture drones up to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakhs per drone is provided for purchase of drones by institutes  under  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 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. (ii)  For  individual purchase of drones, 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. (iii) Looking into the unique advantages of Drones in agriculture, the DA&FW has  released  the  Standard  Operating  Procedures  (SOPs)  which  provide concise  instructions  for  effective  and  safe  operations  of  drones  for pesticide and nutrient application.; (iv) Advantages of deploying Drone in agriculture include high field capacity and efficiency, less turnaround time and other operational delays, wastage reduction of pesticide (around 30%), water saving (around 90%) due to ultralow  volume  spraying  technology  in  comparison  to  conventional  spraying method.

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