Lok Sabha Question No. 279 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Promotion of Agriculture through Artificial Intelligence Technology
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Murari Lal Meena

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 279

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  JULY, 2025

## PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY

## 279. SHRI MURARI LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is formulating or already implementing any specific scheme to promote the use of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drone technology in agriculture;
- (b) if so, the types of facilities, technical support or subsidies being provided to farmers under such scheme(s);
- (c) the  details  and  number  of  States/districts  in  the  country  where  AI  and  drone technology have so far been introduced in agriculture, State/district-wise; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  preparing  any  concrete  action  plan  to  expand  this technology to more districts/regions in the future and if so, the details of the proposed expansion plan and the targeted timeline?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (d): The government has employed Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods and IoT-enabled systems to improve crop productivity, sustainability and farmer livelihoods, and to  address various challenges  in  the  agricultural sector to  aid  farmers,  etc. Some initiatives are given below:

- I.'Kisan e-Mitra' is a voice-based AI-powered chatbot developed to assist farmers with responses  to  their  queries  on  the  PM  Kisan  Samman  Nidhi  scheme.  This  solution supports  11  regional  languages  and  is  evolving  to  assist  with  other  government programs. At present, it handles over 20,000 farmer queries daily and so far, more than 95 lakh queries have been answered.
- II.  The National Pest Surveillance System, for tackling the loss of produce due to climate change,  utilizes  AI  and  Machine  Learning  to  detect  pest  infestation  in  crop  issues, enabling timely intervention for healthier crops. This tool, currently used by over 10,000 extension workers, allows farmers to capture images of pests to help them mitigate pest attacks and reduce crop losses. At present, it supports 61 crops and over 400 pests.
- III.  AI-based analytics using field photographs for satellite-based crop mapping being used in Crop-weather matching monitoring of crops sown.

Further, in order to promote the use of drones in agriculture, under SMAM, financial assistance @ 100% of the cost of drone up to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakhs per drone is provided for its purchase and demonstration on the farmers' fields by the institutes under Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  Farm  Machinery  Training  &  Testing Institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). State Agriculture Universities (SAUs), State and other  Central  Government  Agricultural  Institutions/Departments,  and  Public  Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of the Government of India States/district in the country engaged in agricultural activities. The Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) are provided grants up to 75% of the cost of the Kisan Drone for its demonstrations on the farmers' fields. 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 CHCs under  Cooperative  Society  of  Farmers,  FPOs  and  Rural  entrepreneurs.  Agriculture graduates establishing CHCs are eligible to receive financial assistance @50% of the cost of drone up to a maximum of Rs.5.00 lakhs per drone. For the purchase of drones on an individual ownership basis, 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 per drone.

The Government has approved 'Namo Drone Didi' as Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores for a period of 3 years (2023-24 to 2025-26) with the major aims and  objectives  promoting  advance  technology  in  agriculture  for  improved  efficiency, enhanced crop yield and reduced cost of operation and to empower Women Self Help Groups  (SHGs)  as  drone  service  providers  for  increasing  their  income  and  providing livelihood support to them. Under the Namo Drone Didi scheme, the target is to provide 15,000 Drones to Women SHGs. 1094 drones have been distributed to SHGs by the Lead Fertilizer Companies in 2023-24 by utilizing their internal resources. Distribution of 14,500 drones has been targeted by the Department for which the Government will provide 80% subsidy on drone' package (max 8.0 lakhs per SHG). The balance 20% is to be borne by the SHGs. They may also take a loan under Agri Infra Financing (AIF) with 3% interest subvention.

1094  drones  have  been  distributed  to  SHGs  by  the  Lead  Fertilizer  Companies  in 2023-24, utilizing their internal resources.  Out of these 1094 drones, 500 drones have been  distributed  to  SHGs  under  the  Namo  Drone  Didi  scheme.  The  details  of  drones distributed state-wise are given at annexure.

| State-wise Numbers of Drones approved /distributed under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and Namo Drone Didi   | State-wise Numbers of Drones approved /distributed under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and Namo Drone Didi   | State-wise Numbers of Drones approved /distributed under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and Namo Drone Didi   | State-wise Numbers of Drones approved /distributed under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and Namo Drone Didi   | State-wise Numbers of Drones approved /distributed under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and Namo Drone Didi   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sr.No                                                                                                                    | State                                                                                                                    | Drones approved/distributed under SMAM (Individual/CHCs) ( In Numbers)                                                   | Drones distributed under Namo Drone Didi by LFCs ( In Numbers)                                                           | Total                                                                                                                    |
| 1.                                                                                                                       | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                           | 1475                                                                                                                     | 96                                                                                                                       | 1571                                                                                                                     |
| 2.                                                                                                                       | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                        | 2                                                                                                                        | 0                                                                                                                        | 2                                                                                                                        |
| 3.                                                                                                                       | Assam                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                        | 9                                                                                                                        | 9                                                                                                                        |
| 4.                                                                                                                       | Bihar                                                                                                                    | 5                                                                                                                        | 5                                                                                                                        | 10                                                                                                                       |
| 5.                                                                                                                       | Chhattisgarh                                                                                                             | 50                                                                                                                       | 12                                                                                                                       | 62                                                                                                                       |
| 6.                                                                                                                       | Gujarat                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                        | 18                                                                                                                       | 18                                                                                                                       |
| 7.                                                                                                                       | Haryana                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                        | 22                                                                                                                       | 22                                                                                                                       |
| 8.                                                                                                                       | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                          | 4                                                                                                                        | 4                                                                                                                        |
| 9.                                                                                                                       | Jharkhand                                                                                                                | 0 0                                                                                                                      | 1                                                                                                                        | 1                                                                                                                        |
| 10.                                                                                                                      | Karnataka                                                                                                                | 24                                                                                                                       | 82                                                                                                                       | 106                                                                                                                      |
| 11.                                                                                                                      | Kerala                                                                                                                   | 24                                                                                                                       | 2                                                                                                                        | 26                                                                                                                       |
| 12.                                                                                                                      | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                           | 300                                                                                                                      | 34                                                                                                                       | 334                                                                                                                      |
| 13.                                                                                                                      | Maharashtra                                                                                                              | 25                                                                                                                       | 30                                                                                                                       | 55                                                                                                                       |
| 14.                                                                                                                      | Manipur                                                                                                                  | 4                                                                                                                        | 0                                                                                                                        | 4                                                                                                                        |
| 15.                                                                                                                      | Nagaland                                                                                                                 | 2                                                                                                                        | 0                                                                                                                        | 2                                                                                                                        |
| 16.                                                                                                                      | Punjab                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                        | 23                                                                                                                       | 23                                                                                                                       |
| 17.                                                                                                                      | Rajasthan                                                                                                                | 0                                                                                                                        | 19                                                                                                                       | 19                                                                                                                       |
| 18.                                                                                                                      | Telangana                                                                                                                | 0                                                                                                                        | 72                                                                                                                       | 72                                                                                                                       |
| 19.                                                                                                                      | Odisha                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                        | 12                                                                                                                       | 12                                                                                                                       |
| 20.                                                                                                                      | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                               | 10                                                                                                                       | 17                                                                                                                       | 27                                                                                                                       |
| 21.                                                                                                                      | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                            | 158                                                                                                                      | 32                                                                                                                       | 190                                                                                                                      |
| 22.                                                                                                                      | Uttarakhand                                                                                                              | 34                                                                                                                       | 3                                                                                                                        | 37                                                                                                                       |
| 23.                                                                                                                      | West Bengal                                                                                                              | 4                                                                                                                        | 7                                                                                                                        | 11                                                                                                                       |
| 24.                                                                                                                      | Puducherry                                                                                                               | 5                                                                                                                        | 0                                                                                                                        | 5                                                                                                                        |
|                                                                                                                          | Total                                                                                                                    | 2122                                                                                                                     | 500                                                                                                                      | 2622                                                                                                                     |

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