Promotion of Agriculture through Artificial Intelligence Technology

Promotion of Agriculture through Artificial Intelligence Technology

The government has employed Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods and IoT-enabled systems to improve crop productivity, sustainability and farmer livelihoods, and to address various challenges in the agricultural sector to aid farmers, etc. Some initiatives are given below:

 

 

Further, in order to promote the use of drones in agriculture, under SMAM, financial assistance @ 100% of the cost of drone up to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakhs per drone is provided for its purchase and demonstration on the farmers’ fields by the institutes under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). State Agriculture Universities (SAUs), State and other Central Government Agricultural Institutions/Departments, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of the Government of India States/district in the country engaged in agricultural activities. The Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) are provided grants up to 75% of the cost of the Kisan Drone for its demonstrations on the farmers’ fields. In order to make available drone services to farmers on rental basis, financial assistance @ 40% up to a maximum of Rs. 4.00 lakhs are provided for purchase of drones by CHCs under Cooperative Society of Farmers, FPOs and Rural entrepreneurs. Agriculture graduates establishing CHCs are eligible to receive financial assistance @50% of the cost of drone up to a maximum of Rs.5.00 lakhs per drone. For the purchase of drones on an individual ownership basis, the Small and Marginal, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe, Women and North Eastern State farmers are provided financial assistance @ 50% of the cost up to a maximum of Rs. 5,00 lakhs and other farmers @ 40% up to a maximum of Rs. 4.00 lakhs per drone.

The Government has approved ‘Namo Drone Didi’ as Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores for a period of 3 years (2023-24 to 2025-26) with the major aims and objectives promoting advance technology in agriculture for improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield and reduced cost of operation and to empower Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) as drone service providers for increasing their income and providing livelihood support to them. Under the Namo Drone Didi scheme, the target is to provide 15,000 Drones to Women SHGs. 1094 drones have been distributed to SHGs by the Lead Fertilizer Companies in 2023-24 by utilizing their internal resources. Distribution of 14,500 drones has been targeted by the Department for which the Government will provide 80% subsidy on drone’ package (max 8.0 lakhs per SHG). The balance 20% is to be borne by the SHGs. They may also take a loan under Agri Infra Financing (AIF) with 3% interest subvention.

        1094 drones have been distributed to SHGs by the Lead Fertilizer Companies in 2023-24, utilizing their internal resources. Out of these 1094 drones, 500 drones have been distributed to SHGs under the Namo Drone Didi scheme. The details of drones distributed state-wiseare given at annexure.

Annexure

State-wise Numbers of Drones approved /distributed under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and Namo Drone Didi

Sr.No

State

Drones approved/distributed

under SMAM (Individual/CHCs)

( In Numbers)

Drones distributed

under Namo Drone Didi by LFCs ( In Numbers)

Total

Andhra Pradesh

1475

96

1571

Arunachal Pradesh

2

0

2

Assam

0

9

9

Bihar

5

5

10

Chhattisgarh

50

12

62

Gujarat

0

18

18

Haryana

0

22

22

Himachal Pradesh

0

4

4

Jharkhand

0

1

1

Karnataka

24

82

106

Kerala

24

2

26

Madhya Pradesh

300

34

334

Maharashtra

25

30

55

Manipur

4

0

4

Nagaland

2

0

2

Punjab

0

23

23

Rajasthan

0

19

19

Telangana

0

72

72

Odisha

0

12

12

Tamil Nadu

10

17

27

Uttar Pradesh

158

32

190

Uttarakhand

34

3

37

West Bengal

4

7

11

Puducherry

5

0

5

 

Total

2122

500

2622

 

This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.