Lok Sabha Question No. 967 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: Guidelines for use of Drone Technology
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Vijay Baghel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 967

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 TH  DECEMBER 2022

## GUIDELINES FOR USE OF DRONE TECHNOLOGY

## 967. SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

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

(a) the details of present guidelines issued by the Government regarding the use of drone technology in farming;

(b) the details of the guidelines for providing grants to farmers to procure drone technology; and

(c) the details of the utilisation and safety regarding drone technology?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (c): 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 drone 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. A contingency expenditure of Rs.6000 per hectare is provided to implementing agencies that do not want to purchase drones but will  hire  drones  for  demonstrations  from  Custom  Hiring  Centres,  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 Custom Hiring  Centers  under  Cooperative  Society  of  Farmers,  FPOs and  Rural  entrepreneurs. Agriculture graduates establishing Custom Hiring Centers 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 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.

Looking into the advantages of drone technologies 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.  All the drone operations in the country are governed by the Drone (Amendment) Rules, 2022, notified by the Ministry of  Civil  Aviation  (MoCA).  The  Central  Insecticides  Board  &  Registration  Committee (CIB&RC) has prescribed the guidelines/protocols for registration requirements of pesticides for drone application.  It has also finalized the test protocols for phyto-toxicity evaluation and for bio-efficacy evaluation of pesticide formulation.

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