Drones Subsidy of Rs. 5
lakhs to Helps Farmers to Enhance Farm Productivity and Farmer Incomes
The
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is promoting advanced
technologies—such as Artificial
Intelligence (AI), drones, precision farming, and climate-smart agriculture—to
improve crop productivity, sustainability, and farmer livelihoods across States
and UTs.
Key
initiatives include:
·
Kisan e-Mitra: A voice-based AI chatbot supporting 11 regional
languages, answering over 8,000
farmer queries daily on PM-KISAN, PMFBY, and KCC. It has addressed
over 93 lakh queries
so far.
·
National Pest Surveillance System: Uses AI and machine learning
to detect pest infestations, enabling timely action. The system supports 66 crops and 432 pests, is
used by 10,000+ extension workers,
and helps reduce crop losses.
·
AI-based Monsoon Forecast Pilot (Kharif 2025): Implemented with IMD, localized
monsoon onset forecasts were sent via SMS to 3.88 crore farmers in 13 states. Surveys showed
31–52% of farmers adjusted
planting decisions, improving farm planning.
·
Drone Support under SMAM: Small, marginal, and women
farmers receive 50% subsidy
(up to ₹5 lakh) for drones; Custom Hiring Centres provide
rental access. Between 2023–24
and 2025–26, 2,122
drones were approved for farmers and CHCs.
·
NAMO DRONE DIDI Scheme: 500 drones distributed to
women SHGs (out of 1,094 provided by fertilizer companies). Studies show improved
efficiency, diversified livelihoods, and higher income opportunities for rural women.
·
ICAR Drone Demonstrations: From 2023–24 to 2025–26, drone
demos covered 41,010 hectares,
benefiting 4.52 lakh farmers
through ICAR institutions, SAUs, and KVKs.
Overall,
these measures highlight the government’s push to integrate AI and drone technologies
into agriculture to boost productivity, resilience, and inclusive rural livelihoods.
The
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is actively promoting
the adoption of new technologies in agriculture such as precision farming, drone
technology, climate smart agriculture, Artificial Intelligence (AI) through several
schemes and initiatives in the States/UTs. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drones
have been used to improve crop productivity, sustainability and farmer livelihoods
and to address various challenges in the agricultural sector. Some of the initiatives
are given below:
“Kisan
e-Mitra” is a voice-based AI-powered chatbot, developed to assist farmers with responses
to their queries on PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, PM Fasal Bima Yojana and Kisan
Credit Card. This solution supports 11 regional languages and it handles over 8000
farmer queries daily. More than 93 lakh queries have been answered so far.
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 66 crops and
over 432 pests.
An
AI-based pilot was conducted in collaboration with India Meteorological Department
(IMD) and Development Innovation LabIndia on agriculturally
relevant local monsoon onset forecasts across parts of 13 states in India for Kharif
2025. Local monsoon onset forecasts were sent via SMS through the M-Kisan portal
to 3,88,45,214 farmers in 13 states in five regional languages. Telephonic farmer
feedback surveys were conducted in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar through Kisan Call Centres
after the forecasts were sent and the survey revealed that 31–52% farmers adjusted
their planting decisions, primarily through changes in land preparation and sowing
timing, which included crop and input choice.
Under
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), individual small and marginal
farmers, as well as women farmers are provided 50% subsidy (up to Rs. 5.00 lakhs)
for purchasing drones. Financial assistance is also provided to establish Custom
Hiring Centres (CHCs), which provide agricultural machinery including drones and
other new technology farming equipment on rent to farmers who cannot afford individual
ownership. Under SMAM, during the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26 (as on 30 November
2025), 2122 number of drones have been approved for distribution to individual farmers
and CHCs.
The
Government approved Central Sector Scheme 'NAMO DRONE DIDI' for providing drones
to the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with a view to provide sustainable business
and livelihood support to them. 1094 drones have been distributed to SHGs by the
Lead Fertilizer Companies in 2023-24 utilizing their internal resources. Out of
these 1094 drone, 500 drones have been distributed to SHGs under Namo Drone Didi
scheme. The study carried out by Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation
Centre (ADRTC), Bangalore on these 500 drones indicates that the SHGs earlier were
primarily engaged in agriculture and allied activities and the drones provided to
them has expanded their niche to modern agricultural practices through drone technology,
enhancing their efficiency and productivity. Overall, the adoption of drones has
diversified SHG activities, improved agricultural practices, and increased income
opportunities for women in rural communities.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
institutions are actively involved in dissemination of drone technology. During
the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26 (as on 30 November 2025), the ICAR through various
ICAR institutions, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have conducted drone demonstrations on the farmers’
fields in 41010 hectare area benefitting 452291 farmers.
This
information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,
Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 16 December, 2025.