Agriculture Minister inaugurates conference on ‘Promoting Kisan Drones- Issues, Challenges and Way Forward’
Radiance
News Service
Union
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar today
inaugurated and addressed the conference on “Promoting Kisan Drones: Issues,
Challenges, and the Way Ahead” organized as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Tomar
said that the government is promoting the use of drones for the convenience of
the farmers, reducing the cost and increasing the income. For
promoting the use of Kisan Drones, the government is providing a 50% or
maximum Rs. 5 lakh subsidy to SC-ST, small and marginal, women, and farmers of
northeastern states to buy drones. For other farmers, financial assistance will
be given up to 40 percent or a maximum of Rs 4 lakh, the Minister added.
Speaking on the
multi-faceted use of drones in agriculture, Union Agriculture Minister Tomar
said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated the use of drones in
agricultural activities in the wider interest of farmers. The government is promoting
the use of 'Kisan Drone' for crop assessment, digitization of land records, and
spraying of pesticides and nutrients for which provision has also been made in
the budget. Modernization of the country's agricultural sector is on the agenda
of the government led by Prime Minister Modi.
He said that To promote
the use of drones in agriculture and make drone technology affordable to the
farmers and other stakeholders of this sector, financial assistance @ 100 %
cost of drones together with the contingent expenditure is extended under
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) to the Farm Machinery Training
& Testing Institutes, Institutions of Indian Council of Agricultural
Research, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)
for its demonstration on the farmer’s fields. Farmers Producers Organizations
(FPOs) are provided grants @ 75% for the purchase of drones for their
demonstration on the farmers’ fields.
In order to provide
agricultural services through drone application, financial assistance @ 40% of
the basic cost of the drone and its attachments or Rs.4 lakhs, whichever less
is also provided for drone purchase by existing and new Custom Hiring Centers
(CHCs) under Cooperative Society of Farmers, Farmers Producer Organizations
(FPOs) and Rural entrepreneurs. The agriculture graduates establishing CHCs are
eligible to receive financial assistance @ 50% of the cost of drones up to a
maximum of Rs 5.00 lakhs. In addition to the already identified institutions
for drone demonstration, other agricultural institutions of the state and
central government, and central public sector undertakings engaged in
agricultural activities have also been brought to the eligibility list for
financial assistance for farmers’ drone demonstration. The Union Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is providing assistance to the State
Governments through several schemes to promote agriculture across the country
and increase production and productivity, besides reducing the human labor associated
with various agricultural activities. The Government is also helping farmers
access modern technology to improve the use efficiency of inputs such as seeds,
fertilizers, and irrigation.
Union Minister of State
for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Kailash Choudhary said that this new
technology is aimed to reach more and more farmers, which will facilitate them,
reduce the cost and increase their income. Under this vision of the Prime
Minister, work is being done expeditiously under the guidance of Union
Agriculture Minister Tomar. During the attack on locusts, the government had
also promptly used drones and helicopters for rescue.
Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja said that the conditions are favorable to take drones to the farmers and the government is also committed in this regard. ICAR Director-General Dr Trilochan Mohapatra said that ICAR is contributing through research and training. With this, more and more farmers will be ready to use drones. Joint Secretary Shomita Biswas delivered the welcome address. Additional Secretary Prashant Kumar Swain proposed a vote of thanks. Farmers and entrepreneurs in the drone, fertilizer, and pesticide sector, startup operators, and representatives of IFFCO and KVK were present at the conference.