Lok Sabha Question No. 3536 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Namo Didi Drone Scheme
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3536

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## NAMO DIDI DRONE SCHEME

3536.  SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:

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

- (a) whether the Government has launched Namo Drone Didi scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the salient features of the said scheme;
- (c) whether the Government has issued directives for operation of the said scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the funds sanctioned and released by the Government for implementation of the said scheme;
- (e) the  criteria  laid  down  by  Government  for selection  of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to provide drones to farmers on rent; and
- (f) the manner in which this scheme will be helpful in generating employment to SHGs?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (f):  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. During the financial year 2024-25, it has been targeted to distribute drones to 3090 SHGs in the first phase.

The  scheme  is  implemented  by  converging  the  resources  of  Department    of Agriculture & Farmer's Welfare (DA&FW), Department of Rural Development (DoRD) and Department of Fertilizers  (DoF), Women  SHGs promoted  under  DAY  - NRLM and  Lead Fertilizer  Companies  (LFCs).    The  Committee  at  State  level    with  members  drawn  from various line Departments and institutions 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.

The drones are supplied as a package, which also includes mandatory drone pilot training and additional training for agriculture purpose for nutrient and pesticide application for  one  of  the  members  of  these  women  SHGs.  Provisions  are  also made  to  train  other member/ family member of the SHGs as drone assistant. The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has already issued the detailed operational guidelines of the scheme in October 2024.

The interventions under the  scheme are  targeted towards  providing  business  and livelihood support to SHGs. The drones provided to the SHGs are to be used by them for providing  rental services  to  the  farmers for spraying of liquid fertilizers &  pesticides.  The LFCs are to promote use of Nano fertilizers by the drones to provide business to SHGs. The Committee at the State level is mandated to provide/ensure business to selected Women SHGs in coordination with the LFCs and Pesticide companies.

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