Tamil Nadu unveils drone training scheme for women farmers

The Tamil Nadu government has launched the 'Vetri Vaanmagal' scheme to train women farmers in agricultural drone operations. The initiative includes professional training, pilot licences and subsidised drones for selected women, aiming to boost technology-driven farming and rural employment opportunities

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday announced the launch of the ‘Vetri Vaanmagal’ scheme to train women farmers in operating agricultural drones, as part of efforts to promote technology-driven farming and create new employment opportunities for women in the rural economy.

Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister R. Vinoth unveiled the initiative while presenting the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government’s first Agriculture Budget for 2026-27 in the Legislative Assembly.

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Under the programme, 500 eligible candidates, including 100 women, will receive professional training in drone operations and assistance to obtain drone pilot licences.

The state government has earmarked Rs 1.50 crore to meet the cost of the training. The training will be conducted through the Remote Pilot Training Organisation of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), enabling participants to acquire the technical skills and certification required to operate drones.

In a further push to encourage women to adopt the technology, the government will provide drones at a 50 per cent subsidy to 50 trained women. An allocation of Rs 2.50 crore has been made from state funds for the subsidy component of the programme.

Vinoth said drone technology was rapidly creating employment opportunities across several sectors in India, including agriculture, construction, freight transportation, surveillance and disaster management.

In agriculture, drones can significantly reduce dependence on manual labour by helping farmers carry out time-consuming operations such as spraying fertilisers and pesticides and monitoring crops.

The technology could also help address labour shortages, particularly during crucial stages of cultivation, he said.

The Minister said the initiative assumed greater significance as the United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer, drawing global attention to the contribution of women to agriculture and food security.

The government expects the scheme to provide women with specialised technical skills while enabling them to take up drone-based agricultural services as an additional source of income.

Linking the programme to the government’s broader women-centric initiatives, Vinoth said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who had established the ‘Singappen’ force for women’s protection, was now seeking to create a “Vaanmagal Force” to support and safeguard agriculture.

The initiative is expected to expand the use of precision technology on Tamil Nadu farms while developing a new generation of trained women drone operators capable of providing specialised services to the agricultural sector.