**Executive Summary:**
The Namo Drone Didi Yojana, a Central Sector Scheme, aims to provide 15,000 drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) from 2023-24 to 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores. The scheme promotes advanced agricultural technology, enhances crop yield, reduces operational costs, and empowers SHGs as drone service providers. Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) have already distributed 1094 drones in 2023-24 using internal resources, with 500 of these being distributed under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Objectives:**
* Promote advanced technology in agriculture for improved efficiency.
* Enhance crop yield and reduce operational costs.
* Empower SHGs as drone service providers to increase income and provide livelihood support.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 80% of the drone package cost, up to a maximum of Rs. 8.00 lakhs, is provided to selected women SHGs.
* **Training:**
* 15 days of training for one SHG member is provided.
* 5 days of training for another member/family member of the SHG is provided.
* **Drone Distribution (2023-24):**
* LFCs distributed 1094 drones to SHGs.
* 500 drones distributed under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme.
* **State Level Committee Responsibilities:**
* Selection of appropriate clusters for drone usage.
* Selection of progressive women SHGs under DAY-NRLM in identified clusters.
* Selection of SHG members for drone pilot and assistant training.
* Assessment of district-wise drone usage, identification of gaps, availability, and future requirements.
* Ensuring business for selected Women SHGs in coordination with LFCs and pesticide companies.
* **Cluster Selection Criteria:**
* Cluster of 10-15 villages/Gram Panchayats.
* Contiguous area of 1000-1200 Ha under crops.
* Clusters with large FPO.
* Clusters with large irrigated area.
* Clusters with more fertilizer and pesticide consumption.
* **Annexure I:**
* Details the state-wise distribution of 1094 drones by LFCs to SHGs in 2023-24.
* Details the number of SHG members who received drone pilot training.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Women Self Help Groups (SHGs):**
* *Impact:* Empowerment through drone operation skills, increased income as service providers, access to advanced agricultural technology.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs, utilize drones for agricultural services, coordinate with LFCs and pesticide companies for business opportunities.
* **Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Improved crop yield, reduced operational costs through drone-based services (e.g., spraying, monitoring), access to advanced agricultural technology.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the drone services provided by SHGs, adopt advanced agricultural practices.
* **Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs):**
* *Impact:* Contribute to the scheme by distributing drones, involvement in the training and support of SHGs, potential business growth through increased fertilizer and pesticide sales.
* *Action Required:* Coordinate with State Level Committees, distribute drones, provide business opportunities to SHGs.
* **State Governments (Agriculture/Rural Development Departments):**
* *Impact:* Implementation of the scheme at the state level, selection of appropriate clusters and SHGs, monitoring of drone usage and impact on agriculture.
* *Action Required:* Form State Level Committees, identify suitable clusters and SHGs, oversee training and drone deployment, monitor and evaluate the scheme's progress.
Key Entities Referenced
Namo Drone Didi Yojana: A Central Sector Scheme approved by the Government of India to provide drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs).
Women Self Help Groups: Groups of women who are the beneficiaries of the Namo Drone Didi Yojana, receiving drones and training to provide agricultural services.
Central Sector Scheme: A scheme funded and implemented by the central government.
Lead Fertilizer Companies: Companies that distributed drones to drone didis of SHGs using their internal resources before the Namo Drone Didi Scheme was fully implemented.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation: The authority that authorizes Remote Pilot Training Organizations (RPTOs) where members of SHGs are trained as drone pilots.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihoods Mission: A rural development program under which progressive women SHGs are selected in the identified clusters for providing drones
Andhra Pradesh: One of the states where drones were distributed to SHGs by the LFCs in 2023-24.
Chhattisgarh: One of the states and Union Territories including Chhattisgarh mentioned in the question.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1554
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY 2025
FEATURES OF NAMO DRONE DIDI YOJANA
1554. SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the salient features of Namo Drone Didi Yojana;
(b) the State-wise list of budget sanctioned by the Government;
(c) the number of beneficiaries of this scheme i.e. women who have been given this training
for the year 2024-25;
(d) the manner in which such clusters, where there is demand for drones for providing
agricultural services; and
(e) the details of such clusters in all States and Union Territories including Chhattisgarh?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (e): The Government has approved ‘Namo Drone Didi’ as Central Sector Scheme for
providing 15,000 drones to the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs. 1261
Crores for the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26. The major objectives of the scheme is to
promote advance technology in agriculture for improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield &
reduced cost of operation and to empower SHGs as drone service providers for increasing their
income and providing livelihood support to them. Under this scheme, Central Financial
Assistance (CFA) @ 80% of the cost of drone package up to a maximum of Rs. 8.00 lakhs is
provided to the selected women SHGs. 15 days training for one of the members of SHGs and
5 days training to other member/family member of SHGs is provided as a part of drone package.
Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) have distributed 1094 drones to drone didis of SHGs in
2023-24 using their internal resources. Out of these 1094 drones, 500 drones have been
distributed under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme. Members of these SHGs have been trained as
drone pilots at various Remote Pilot Training Organizations (RPTOs) authorized by Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The State-wise distribution of 1094 drones is attached at
Annexure -I.The Committee at State level with members drawn from Department of
Agriculture/Agricultural Engineering of the State, Rural Development, State Mission Directorate
of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), State
Cooperative Department, Lead Banks/ National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development
(NABARD), representatives of Lead Fertilizer Company (LFC) nominated for the state, Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)/State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)/Krishi Vigyan
Kendras (KVKs) is responsible for selection of appropriate clusters for drone usage, selection
of the progressive women SHGs under DAY - NRLM in the States in the identified clusters for
providing drones, selection of members of the women SHGs for drone pilot and drone assistant
training, assessment of district-wise drone usage, identification of existing gap, availability and
future requirements of drone usage, providing/ensuring business to selected Women SHGs in
coordination with the LFCs and Pesticide companies etc. The suggested broad criteria for
selection of clusters by the State Level Committee include cluster 10-15 villages / Gram
Panchayats, Contiguous area of 1000 – 1200 Ha under crops like Cotton, Paddy, Sugarcane,
Chillies, Wheat, Orchards, Plantations etc., Clusters with large FPO, Clusters with Large
Irrigated area and Clusters with more fertilizer and pesticide consumption.Annexure-I
State-wise number of drones distributed to SHGs by the LFCs in 2023-24 and the
members of SHGs given drone pilot training
S. No State Name No. of Drones No. of members of SHGs
distributed given drone pilot training
1. Andhra Pradesh 108 108
2. Assam 28 28
3. Bihar 32 32
4. Chhattisgarh 15 15
5. Goa 1 1
6. Gujarat 58 58
7. Haryana 102 102
8. Himachal Pradesh 4 4
9. J&K 2 2
10. Jharkhand 15 15
11. Karnataka 145 145
12. Kerala 51 51
13. Madhya Pradesh 89 89
14. Maharashtra 60 60
15. Odisha 16 16
16. Punjab 57 57
17. Rajasthan 40 40
18 Tamil Nadu 44 44
19. Telangana 81 81
20. Uttar Pradesh 128 128
21. Uttarakhand 3 3
22. West Bengal 15 15
Total 1094 1094
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