Women groups to operate drones for agricultural operations in Telangana

Under the scheme, drones worth Rs.10 lakh will be supplied to the groups, which will have to pay Rs.2 lakh with the remaining Rs.8 lakh to be borne by the NRLM

Karimnagar: Women self help groups in the State will now get drones on an 80 percent subsidy under the National Rural Livelihood Mission. These are mainly in view of the increased usage of drones in the agricultural sector to spray fertilizer and pesticides and thereby, to help women earn a livelihood.

Initially, one group has been selected from each assembly constituency. Under the scheme, drones worth Rs.10 lakh will be supplied to the groups, which will have to pay Rs.2 lakh with the remaining Rs.8 lakh to be borne by the NRLM. Two members of a group will be given training in the operation of drones.

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With shortfall of labour becoming a big challenge for farmers, many are utilizing drones to spray fertilizer and pesticides. Besides Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS), a group of farmers have also purchased drones and are earning money by operating them. In some areas, individuals are also operating drones.

Organisations such as IFFCO and KRIBHCO are also extending technical support to societies as well as farmers groups. Noticing the growing demand for drones, the government decided to engage women groups in drone operations. Experts in the agriculture sector opined that the government was promoting the usage of drones in the agriculture sector to cut down expenditure.

If farmers wanted to spray urea to crops by using drones, they have to utilize only nano-urea, which is available at a lower price in the market when compared to normal urea.

Speaking to Telangana Today, a farmer from Gopalpur, Rajamallaiah said the government would have to spend about Rs.1,800 to Rs.2,000 to purchase a 45 kg urea bag. However, farmers were being provided the same at Rs.265. The government has to bear the remaining amount. At the same time, a litre of nano-urea, which is enough for an acre of land, would be available at the same price of around Rs.265. So, the government was encouraging farmers to utilize nano-urea to reduce investment on the purchase of fertilizer.

An agreement has also been entered with the companies such as IFFCO and KRIBHCO to provide technical support to farmers. IFFCO also supplied drones, auto trolley vehicles and other material to a few PACS free of cost. However, except a few, small farmers were not showing interest to utilize nano-urea. They have apprehensions that if the urea was sprayed by using drones, it would fall in adjacent fields due to wind. So, the government should create awareness among the farmers in a big way, he opined.