Lok Sabha Question No. 1336 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Data on Women SHGs under Namo Drone Didi Programme
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Appalanaidu Kalisetti

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1336

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  DECEMBER 2024

## DATA ON WOMEN SHGS UNDER NAMO DRONE DIDI PROGRAMME

## 1336. SHRI APPALANAIDU KALISETTI:

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

- (a) the  breakdown of the number of Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) selected under the "Namo Drone Didi" program for drone provision, including the criteria used for the selection, State-wise and district-wise for Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) the targets set for the financial year 2024-25 both at the State level and districtwise for Andhra Pradesh for the number of SHGs to be benefitted under the "Namo Drone Didi" scheme along with the number of beneficiaries expected to be impacted in each district for the State of Andhra Pradesh;
- (c) the  number  of  Women  SHGs  selected,  the  allocation  of  drone  kits  and  the training provided under the scheme, district-wise breakdown for the State of Andhra Pradesh; and
- (d) the  list  of  Lead  Fertilizer  Companies  (LFCs)  selected  for  implementing  the "Namo Drone Didi" scheme including the role they will play in the procurement and distribution of drones, training and monitoring in the State of Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

- (a): The Government has approved 'Namo Drone Didi' as Central Sector Scheme for providing drones to the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores for the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26. Out of the total 15,000 drones targeted to be supplied under the scheme, the Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) have procured the first 500 drones in 2023-24, using their internal resources and distributed to the selected SHGs, which include 96 drones supplied to SHGs of the State of Andhra Pradesh. As  per the information provided by the Department  of  Agriculture, Government of Andhra Pradesh, the cluster of villages having mono crop areas with more pesticide  consumption were selected  for distribution  of these 96  drones. The district-wise number of SHGs provided with drones by the LFCs in 2023-24 in the State of Andhra Pradesh is given in Annexure-I.

(b):    The  Committee  at  State  level    with  members  drawn  from  Department  of Agriculture/Agricultural  Engineering  of  the  State,  Rural  Development,  State Mission Directorate  of  Deendayal  Antyodaya  Yojana  -  National  Rural  Livelihoods  Mission (DAY-NRLM),  State  Cooperative  Department, Lead  Banks/ National Bank  for Agriculture  &  Rural  Development  (NABARD),  representatives  of  Lead  Fertilizer Company  (LFC)  nominated  for  the  state,  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research (ICAR)/State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)/Krishi Vigyan Kendras  (KVKs)  is responsible  for  selection  of  appropriate  clusters  for  drone  usage,  selection  of  the progressive women SHGs under DAY - NRLM in the States in the identified clusters for providing drones, selection of members of the women SHGs for drone pilot and drone  assistant  training,  assessment  of  district-wise  drone  usage,  identification  of existing gap, availability and future requirements of drone usage, providing/ensuring business  to  selected  Women  SHGs  in  coordination  with  the  LFCs  and  Pesticide companies etc. During the financial year 2024-25, the target is to distribute drones to 3090 SHGs in the first  phase out of which  90 SHGs are from the State of Andhra Pradesh. As  per the information provided by the Department  of  Agriculture, Government of Andhra Pradesh, the details of district-wise number of SHGs allocated for distribution of drones in first phase of 2024-25 is given in Annexure-II.

(c):  The members of SHGs selected for providing drones in 2023-24 in the State of Andhra Pradesh were provided   training of 9-12 days duration. The drones that are targeted to be provided during first phase of 2024-25 is to be supplied as a package which also include training  for one of the members of the SHG for fifteen days. The training  covers  drone  flying,  understanding  provisions  of  Drone  Rules,  Standard Operating  Procedures  (SOPs)  for  nutrient  and  pesticide  application,  drone  flying practice for agriculture purpose and minor repair & maintenance of drones. The other member/ family member of the selected  SHG with inclination  to  take  up  repairs  of electrical  goods,  fitting  and  mechanical  works  is  to  be  selected  by  the  State  Level Committee and trained as drone assistant for 5 days.

(d):      Indian  Farmers  Fertiliser  Cooperative  Limited  (IFFCO)  is  nominated  as  Lead Fertilizer Company (LFC) for the State of Andhra Pradesh.  IFFCO as an implementing agency, is  to  work  in  close  coordination  with  the  State  Level  Committee.  IFFCO is responsible for  procurement of drones in a  fair and transparent in accordance with relevant General Financial Rules. It is also to act as a bridge between drone supplier companies  and  Cluster  Level  Federations  (CLF)  of  SHGs  for  operations  and maintenance of drones and promote use of Nano fertilizers by the drones.  LFCs are to facilitate training and awareness of SHGs/Farmers.

Annexure-I District-wise Number of SHGs provided with drones by the LFCs in 2023-24 in the State of Andhra Pradesh

| S. No.   | District              |   No. of SHGs |
|----------|-----------------------|---------------|
| 1.       | Alluri Seetharamaraju |             1 |
| 2.       | Ananthapuram          |             3 |
| 3.       | Annamayya             |             5 |
| 4.       | Bapatla               |             6 |
| 5.       | Chitoor               |             5 |
| 6.       | Dr B R Konaseema      |             1 |
| 7.       | Eluru                 |             6 |
| 8.       | Kakinada              |             4 |
| 9.       | Krishna               |             6 |
| 10.      | Kurnool               |             8 |
| 11.      | Nandyal               |             9 |
| 12.      | NTR                   |             3 |
| 13.      | Palnadu               |             4 |
| 14.      | Prakasam              |             6 |
| 15.      | SPSR Nellore          |             4 |
| 16.      | Sr. Satya Sai         |             1 |
| 17.      | Srikakulam            |            11 |
| 18.      | Tirupathi             |             2 |
| 19.      | West Godavari         |             6 |
| 20.      | YSR Kadapa            |             5 |
|          | Total                 |            96 |

## District-wise Number of SHGs allocated for distribution of drones in first phase of 2024-25 in the State of Andhra Pradesh

| S. No.   | District            |   No. of SHGs |
|----------|---------------------|---------------|
| 1.       | Srikakulam          |             6 |
| 2.       | Parvatipuram Manyam |            15 |
| 3.       | Vizianagaram        |            15 |
| 4.       | Kakinada            |            20 |
| 5.       | Krishna             |             9 |
| 6.       | Guntur              |            16 |
| 7.       | Chitoor             |             9 |
|          | Total               |            90 |

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