**Executive Summary**
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is promoting AI and drone technologies to improve agricultural productivity and farmer livelihoods. Initiatives include the "Kisan e-Mitra" AI chatbot, the National Pest Surveillance System, AI-based monsoon forecasting, and the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) for drone subsidies. The 'NAMO DRONE DIDI' scheme provides drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs). All data is current as of November 30, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **AI Initiatives:**
* **Kisan e-Mitra:** AI-powered chatbot assists farmers with queries on various schemes in 11 regional languages, handling over 8000 queries daily.
* **National Pest Surveillance System:** Utilizes AI and Machine Learning to detect pest infestations, enabling timely intervention and supporting 66 crops.
* **AI-based monsoon forecasts:** Local forecasts were sent via SMS to farmers in 13 states, leading to adjustments in planting decisions for 31-52% of farmers.
* **Drone Promotion:**
* **SMAM:** Provides 50% subsidy (up to Rs. 5.00 lakhs) for individual small and marginal farmers, as well as women farmers to purchase drones.
* **SMAM:** Supports Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) with drones and other new technology farming equipment for farmers who cannot afford individual ownership. 2122 drones have been approved for distribution to individual farmers and CHCs.
* **NAMO DRONE DIDI:** Scheme provides drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to support sustainable business and livelihood, with 1094 drones distributed to SHGs by the Lead Fertilizer Companies in 2023-24.
* **ICAR Involvement:**
* ICAR institutions, SAUs, and KVKs have conducted drone demonstrations on farmers' fields in 41010 hectare area benefitting 452291 farmers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
* **Impact:** Improved access to information, technology, and financial assistance for purchasing drones. More informed planting decisions and better pest management.
* **Action Required:** Leverage available resources like the Kisan e-Mitra chatbot and participate in drone demonstrations. Apply for subsidies under SMAM for drone purchase.
**Women Self Help Groups (SHGs)**
* **Impact:** Enhanced business and livelihood opportunities through drone technology. Diversified activities and increased income potential.
* **Action Required:** Utilize drones provided under the 'NAMO DRONE DIDI' scheme for modern agricultural practices and increased productivity.
**Agricultural Extension Workers**
* **Impact:** Enhanced tools for pest surveillance and management, enabling more effective interventions.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the National Pest Surveillance System to capture images of pests and help farmers mitigate pest attacks and reduce crop losses.
**India Meteorological Department (IMD)**
* **Impact:** Contribution to farmer decision-making through AI-based local monsoon onset forecasts.
* **Action Required:** Continue to collaborate with DA&FW and Development Innovation LabIndia to refine AI-based monsoon forecasts.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW): The Indian government department promoting new technologies, including AI and drones, in agriculture.
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM): A scheme that provides subsidies for purchasing drones and establishing Custom Hiring Centres.
NAMO DRONE DIDI: A central sector scheme that provides drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to support their business and livelihood.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): Institutions actively involved in the dissemination of drone technology through demonstrations on farmers' fields.
Kisan e-Mitra: A voice-based AI-powered chatbot to assist farmers with responses to their queries on PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, PM Fasal Bima Yojana and Kisan Credit Card.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Government Promotes AI and Drone
Technologies to Boost Agricultural Productivity
and Farmer Livelihoods
प्रव तथ: 16 DEC 2025 5:52PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is actively promoting the adoption of new
technologies in agriculture such as precision farming, drone technology, climate smart agriculture,
Artificial Intelligence (AI) through several schemes and initiatives in the States/UTs. Artificial Intelligence
(AI) and drones have been used to improve crop productivity, sustainability and farmer livelihoods and to
address various challenges in the agricultural sector. Some of the initiatives are given below:
“Kisan e-Mitra” is a voice-based AI-powered chatbot, developed to assist farmers with responses to their
queries on PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, PM Fasal Bima Yojana and Kisan Credit Card. This solution
supports 11 regional languages and it handles over 8000 farmer queries daily. More than 93 lakh queries
have been answered so far.
The National Pest Surveillance System, for tackling the loss of produce due to climate change, utilizes AI
and Machine Learning to detect pest infestation in crop issues, enabling timely intervention for healthier
crops. This tool, currently used by over 10,000 extension workers, allows farmers to capture images of
pests to help them mitigate pest attacks and reduce crop losses. At present, it supports 66 crops and over
432 pests.
An AI-based pilot was conducted in collaboration with India Meteorological Department (IMD) and
Development Innovation LabIndia on agriculturally relevant local monsoon onset forecasts across parts of
13 states in India for Kharif 2025. Local monsoon onset forecasts were sent via SMS through the M-Kisan
portal to 3,88,45,214 farmers in 13 states in five regional languages. Telephonic farmer feedback surveys
were conducted in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar through Kisan Call Centres after the forecasts were sent and
the survey revealed that 31–52% farmers adjusted their planting decisions, primarily through changes in
land preparation and sowing timing, which included crop and input choice.
Under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), individual small and marginal farmers, as
well as women farmers are provided 50% subsidy (up to Rs. 5.00 lakhs) for purchasing drones. Financial
assistance is also provided to establish Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), which provide agricultural
machinery including drones and other new technology farming equipment on rent to farmers who cannot
afford individual ownership.Under SMAM, during the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26 (as on 30
November 2025), 2122 number of drones have been approved for distribution to individual farmers and
CHCs.
The Government approved Central Sector Scheme 'NAMO DRONE DIDI' for providing drones to the
Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with a view to provide sustainable business and livelihood support to
them. 1094 drones have been distributed to SHGs by the Lead Fertilizer Companies in 2023-24 utilizing
their internal resources. Out of these 1094 drone, 500 drones have been distributed to SHGs under Namo
Drone Didi scheme.The study carried out by Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre(ADRTC), Bangalore on these 500 drones indicates that the SHGs earlier were primarily engaged in
agriculture and allied activities and the drones provided to them has expanded their niche to modern
agricultural practices through drone technology, enhancing their efficiency and productivity. Overall, the
adoption of drones has diversified SHG activities, improved agricultural practices, and increased income
opportunities for women in rural communities.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions are actively involved in dissemination of
drone technology. During the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26 (as on 30 November 2025), the ICAR
through various ICAR institutions, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras
(KVKs) have conducted drone demonstrations on the farmers’ fields in 41010 hectare area benefitting
452291 farmers.
This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath
Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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