The use of drones for crop protection in India is new and the country is gaining experience. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched a network program during September 2021 to research the use of drones and artificial intelligence (AI) for timely monitoring of crop growth, health and management with increased input efficiency. Drone technology and artificial intelligence are being used to monitor crop health in near real time. Drone is also used for variable speed technology for pesticide and liquid fertilizer applications, water spread area mapping, water sampling, macrophyte infestation mapping and aquaculture management practices, etc. Drone and AI technology is also used for precision livestock farming, especially monitoring their health status.
To increase farmers’ incomes, emphasis is placed on adopting a multi-pronged strategy that includes increasing production through resource creation for improved irrigation; efficient use of inputs; reduction of post-harvest losses; value added; agricultural marketing reforms; minimizing risks and ensuring security and assisting and supporting allied activities. The government has adopted several development programs, schemes, reforms and policies aimed at higher income for farmers. All these policies and programs are supported by higher budgetary allocations, extra-budgetary financial resources like creation of Corpus Funds like Micro Irrigation Fund etc. Several reforms have been implemented to unlock the potential like creation and support of 10,000 FPOs along with necessary financial support under of Atma Nirbhar (Agriculture) package.
Under Atma Nirbhar Bharat, there is a special focus on creating infrastructure for which an “Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) of Rs 100,000 crore has been created. Other special initiatives include supplementary income transfers under PM-KISAN; Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY); Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY); Increase in Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all Kharif & Rabi crops ensuring minimum 50 percent profit margin on cost of production, Beekeeping; Rashtriya Gokul Mission; Blue Revolution; Interest Subsidy Program; Kisan Credit Card (KCC) which now offers production credit even to dairy and fisheries farmers in addition to agricultural crops etc. The adoption of drone technology in agriculture has the potential to revolutionize Indian agriculture. To make drone technology available to farmers and other stakeholders in the sector, financial assistance of 100% cost of drones along with contingent expenditure is extended to ICAR/SAU/State Governments/State Government Institutions under the Agricultural Mechanization Sub-Mission.
(SMAM) for demonstrating it in the farm field. In addition, farmers are given timely information and advisory services through online and telecommunication media such as Kisan Call Center and Kisan Suvidha App so that farmers can make decisions to increase crop productivity. During the last three years (2019-2021), a total of 946 varieties of field crops were released, including 379 cereals, 146 oilseeds, 168 pulses, 55 fodder crops, 158 spinning crops, 26 sugarcane and 14 others crops (potential/minor crops). In addition, 288 varieties of horticultural crops were also released. These improved varieties help farmers increase their income.This information was given by the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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