“This is a new chapter in the direction of modern agricultural facilities of the 21st century. I am confident that this beginning will not only prove to be a milestone in development of the drone sector but also will also open the sky to unlimited possibilities,” the PM tweeted after the mega launch of 100 drones on 18/2/2022 Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually launched 100 ‘Made in India’ agricultural drones across the country, which carried out farm operations in unique simultaneous flights. The PM labelled it a “milestone” for Indian agriculture. This is for the first time for Indian Agriculture that the Prime Minister has flagged off the new important technology which is being considered as the future of the agriculture.
An agricultural drone, which typically operates using Internet-based smart technologies, can undertake precise farm operations (aka Precision Farming Technology), from spraying to monitoring crop health. They can cost anywhere between ?5-10 lakh. A raft of recent policy relaxations and incentives, including proposals in the Union Budget 2022-23, has opened up India’s vast agriculture sector for commercial use of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles. According the raft 100% subsidy is announced to help the agriculture of the nation. By this move Modi Government is expecting great contribution to the GDP because, private investment in farm sector is 21% to the country’s GDP.
Farmers’ producer organizations or large collectives are now eligible to receive grants up to 75% of the cost of the drone for demonstrations.
The government has also provisioned a contingency expenditure of ?6000 per hectare to implementing agencies that do not want to purchase drones but will hire them for demonstrations.
The contingent expenditure to implementing agencies that purchase drones for drone demonstrations would be limited to Rs.3000 per hectare. These grants for promotion drone technologies will be available till March 31, 2023, the senior official quoted above said.
Drone hiring centers will also receive special funding to provide agricultural services through drones. This includes 40% of the basic cost of drone and its attachments or ?4 lakh, whichever is lower.
(Source: www.hindustantimes.com)
Agri Asia is promoting the precision Agriculture technology especially Drone Technology to educate the farmers community from 2019, we believe the government is recognizing our efforts of implementing new technology in Indian farmers. This indeed help the scale up the produces in the country. More drone manufacturing and service companies are expected to participate in Agri Asia 2022.
Agri Asia 2022 will take place during 9-10-11 September 2022 at Helipad Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
For more details, pls get in touch with us on +919173826807 or write us on agriasia@agriasia.in
