Key Takeaways

• Vizianagaram district launches a drone-based farming initiative to support small farmers.
• The program aims to reduce cultivation costs and address labor shortages through technology.
• Participants receive DGCA licenses after training, with a focus on empowering women farmers.

Drone Initiative for Small Farmers

Vizianagaram district is implementing a drone-based farming initiative aligned with Swarna Andhra Vision 2047, targeting the needs of small and marginal farmers. This technology-driven program aims to modernize agricultural practices, lower cultivation costs, and tackle the ongoing labor shortage.

In the initial phase, agricultural drones will be deployed to 34 farmer groups—24 in Vizianagaram and 10 in Parvathipuram Manyam. To facilitate proper implementation, 22 individuals have undergone specialized training in Guntur and Vijayawada, funded by the state government at a cost of Rs 70,000 per trainee.

Mandal agricultural officer Madhavi highlighted the financial benefits of drone usage. Traditional pesticide spraying costs around Rs 2,000 per acre, while drones can cover up to 10 acres in a day, significantly reducing expenses. Eligibility requires at least one group member to have completed Intermediate education, with an emphasis placed on prioritizing women farmers to promote gender equity within agricultural technology.

Upon completing the training, participants receive official Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) licenses, enabling them to operate drones legally. Training has transitioned from a traditional 12-day program at Agro Guntur University to a more condensed 10-day format offered by private companies, featuring both theoretical and practical sessions.

The program employs two drone types: smaller models for pesticide spraying and medium-sized drones for dusting and fertilizer application. District agriculture officer V.T. Rama Rao noted the program’s sustainability, stating that 24 drones have already been sanctioned for use in Vizianagaram.

The financial structure encourages farmer participation. Each group must create a bank account with an initial deposit of Rs 5 lakh, followed by an approved loan of Rs 5 lakh to cover half of the Rs 10 lakh drone cost. Following verification, an 80% subsidy of Rs 8 lakh is credited, ultimately allowing farmers to recover their initial investment while only paying Rs 2 lakh.

This initiative marks a revival of agricultural subsidies previously provided under the Telugu Desam (TD) government, which offered substantial subsidies for various agricultural equipment. These subsidies were discontinued by the YSR Congress government in favor of the “Rythu Bharosa” program, which promised 60 drones and training for 47 youth, though actual distributions fell short. The current government is now revitalizing and expanding the drone initiative, demonstrating a commitment to modernizing agriculture in Vizianagaram.

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