Agricultural drone
Rs 1.2699 billion (RUB 1.15 billion) in funding to promote agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be provided by the Indian Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on February 13, according to AgNews.
Of the allocated amount, 525 million rupees (470 million rubles) will be received by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) for the purchase of 300 Kisan UAVs and the organization of their demonstrations on 75,000 hectares of one hundred scientific agricultural centers (KVK).
It is also planned to create a network of 1,500 UAV stations to provide drone services to farmers. The use of drones will expand employment opportunities in rural areas.
Instructions have been issued for the use of UAVs for the application of pesticides and fertilizers.
Financial assistance in the amount of 100% of the cost, but not more than 1 million rupees (895 thousand rubles) for UAVs is provided by institutions under ICAR, KVK, state agricultural universities (SAU), as well as state-owned enterprises. Commercial enterprises will receive grants of up to 75% of the cost of the drone.
Businesses that do not want to purchase UAVs can receive 6,000 rupees (5.35 thousand rubles) per hectare to order a demonstration in specialized centers or from drone manufacturers. Performers who purchase drones to demonstrate capabilities will receive 3,000 rupees (2.7 thousand rubles) per hectare.
Single peasants, women, scheduled caste and tribal peasants, and farmers in the North Eastern State can receive financial assistance in the amount of 50% of the cost of the UAV, up to a maximum of 500,000 rupees (445,000 rubles). Other farmers will receive 40% of the cost and no more than 400,000 rupees (355,000 rubles).
