GRANITE FALLS, North Carolina — Bill Gates recently visited India’s rural farming community. He was not there for charity work or Microsoft but for the demonstration of agricultural drones through the Namo Drone Didi scheme.
The global landscape of agriculture is changing rapidly. With the introduction of new technologies such as robotic harvesters and renewable energy irrigation systems, the dynamics of farming workloads are dramatically different from those of the past. Among these advancements, the implementation of agricultural drones has improved the planning, monitoring and caretaking of crops on a day-to-day basis.
To accommodate the rapid technological expansion, the government of India has rolled out the Namo Drone Didi scheme, making drones more widely accessible for women-led self-help groups (SHGs) that empower farmers in rural areas.
Namo Drone Didi Scheme
According to a press release from the government of India, Namo Drone Didi will provide subsidies on 80% of the cost of agricultural drones purchased by the self-help groups. Assistance will be provided on loans up to eight lakh. For reference, eight lakh is eight hundred thousand rupees, equaling roughly $9,400 as of the writing of this article. Loans from the National Agriculture Infrastructure Financing Facility (AIF) will be available on the remaining 20% of the cost as necessary, with a 3% interest rate.
The assistance will be area-based. After evaluation of demand and acceptance of the women-led SHG, training will be provided for a member of the group. Training consists of a 15-day program, providing five days for learning to pilot a drone and 10 days learning about accurate nutrient and pesticide application. To strengthen the skills and capabilities of the SHG, another member will be trained in repairing the electrical and mechanical aspects of the drones.
The scheme aims to select 15,000 women-led SHGs to be trained and assisted through the program through 2026.
Agricultural Drones
The Borgen Project spoke with Jacob H., a member of Broken G Farms LLC., about the optimization of agricultural drones in their farming operation. His team uses a DJI T40, utilizing similar tech but from a different company than the provider in the Namo Drone Didi scheme. Though Jacob works with drones in the United States, the functions of the technology remain consistent across agricultural mediums. He said, “[Different applications] can range from spraying chemicals on fields and pastures, to scouting plants and seeing what kind of nutrients are needed, to being able to look at different areas you wouldn’t be able to get to easily.”
Garuda Aerospace, the India-based tech start-up providing agricultural drones for the Namo Drone Didi scheme, promises a 30% boost in crop yields using its tech. Through camera systems, users can view crops and livestock and monitor for pests and weeds.
According to the Garuda Aerospace website, agricultural drones use specialized GPS systems that allow them to adhere to programmed pathways across crops. The technology uses these paths to monitor crop health, analyze soil, and administer precise concentrations of pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides. Aside from being proactive in environmental awareness, reducing the amount of chemicals used through the drones also saves the capital investment in resources.
Drone Usage Benefits
When asked about the biggest benefits of drone usage, Jacob told The Borgen Project, “When it comes to pastures, we do not have to try and beat up a ground rig on very rough terrain. On the crop ground, we can spray when we need to and not have to wait for the airplane to come and spray. It also does a much more efficient job of getting the chemicals onto the target compared to anything else.”
According to Garuda Aerospace’s website, farmers involved with the Namo Drone Didi scheme should see 40-60% time savings in farm management as well. Time savings are only the tip of the iceberg. This scheme provides an onslaught of financial opportunities for rural farmers and women-led self-help groups.
Financial Benefits
Aside from the benefits of the subsidies and assistance loans, the participants of the Namo Drone Didi scheme can expect speedy returns on investment. When asked about cost-savings attributed to the use of agricultural drones, Jacob said, “We have seen a return on investment in yields alone…After having it for three years, we have started making money with it, not only on our own ground, but [by]being able to do custom spraying for other farmers in the area.”
Though the long-term effectiveness of the scheme is still uncertain due to the possible inflation of drone pricing and future maintenance costs, the upfront benefits of overhead reduction could offset some of these financial concerns. According to Garuda Aerospace, farmers can expect a 30-50% reduction in the cost of labor and resources. The Indian government expects the women-led SHGs to rent the drones out to farmers, estimating the additional income to be approximately one lakh, or $1,200 per year, per self-help group. This means that after a few years of use, the drones will have paid for themselves and become a total profit gain.
As poverty levels in India drop, the Namo Drone Didi scheme aims to continue that trend in the rural agriculture sector. Garuda Aerospace has already delivered 446 drones to women-led SHGs, according to Fortune India. Fortune India also reported, “The initiative has provided training to over 500 rural women, equipping them with critical drone skills and fostering economic independence.”
The Future of Namo Drone Didi
As drone technology continues to advance at an astronomical speed, industries all around the world can expect to adapt and improve with each innovation. Agricultural drones provide another step away from poverty and into the future for women and farmers across India’s countryside. With the implementation of Garuda Aerospace’s drones and specialized training provided through the Namo Drone Didi scheme, India’s farmers are becoming the epitome of working smarter, not harder. Time will tell if it continues to provide financial liberation for India’s farmers in the future.
– Jacob Christopher
Jacob is based in Granite Falls, NC, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr