IWD 2024: 'Namo Drone Didis' Scheme

Drones and The Farming Sector

Automated drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have been transforming the agricultural and farming industries for a number of years.

With their ability to cover large land areas quickly and efficiently, these drones are helping farmers increase crop yields, reduce costs, and improve sustainability.

During this development, much attention has been paid to the drones themselves, but not so much to the operators responsible for their flight. Until now...

The 'Namo Drone Didis' Scheme

Women of India are helping to revolutionise the farming sector by flying drone sprayers, and transforming crop management.

The NaMo Drone Didi Initiative aims to empower rural women by training them to become drone pilots for agricultural purposes. The initiative aims to equip 15,000 women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with agricultural drones to assist in tasks such as crop monitoring, spraying fertilizers, and sowing seeds.

Many of these rural women across states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh are displaying their newly adopted skills to spray nano-fertilisers, farm nutrients, herbicides, and pesticides on their farm fields to propel the agricultural industry.

The Drone Didis, officially part of the 'Namo Drone Didis' scheme, may not have had formal schooling or many previous opportunities, but the drone training they've received has transformed them into skilled drone warriors striving to bring change to the farm sector.